Search

There is some, albeit inconsistent, evidence supporting sex differences in preschoolers' motor competence (MC), with these observations not uniform when analyzed by age, and cultural groups. Thus, this study examined sex differences across ages in 3- to 5-year-old children's MC. A cross-country pooled sample of 6241 children aged 3-5 years (49.6% girls) was assessed for MC using the Test of Gross Motor Development-2nd/3rd edition, and children were categorized into groups of age in months. Multiple linear regression models and predictive margins were calculated to explore how sex and age in months affect scores of MC (i.e., locomotor and ball skills), with adjustments for country and BMI. The Chow's Test was used to test for the presence of a structural break in the data. Significant differences in favor of girls were seen at 57-59 and 66-68 months of age for locomotor skills; boys performed better in ball skills in all age periods, except for 42-44 and 45-47 months of age. The higher marginal effects were observed for the period between 45-47 and 48-50 months for locomotor skills (F = 30.21; and F = 25.90 for girls and boys, respectively), and ball skills (F = 19.01; and F = 42.11 for girls and boys, respectively). A significantly positive break point was seen at 45-47 months, highlighting the age interval where children's MC drastically improved. The identification of this breakpoint provides an evidence-based metric for when we might expect MC to rapidly increase, and an indicator of early delay when change does not occur at that age., (© 2024 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

The study aims were to (1) identify perceived motor competence (PMC) and actual motor competence (AMC) profiles in children at two time points (early and middle childhood) 3 years apart, (2) explore transitions between the profiles from T1 to T2, and (3) investigate how PMC-AMC profiles at T1 differ in their mean values for AMC and PMC variables at T2. PMC was assessed by the pictorial scale of Perceived Movement Skill Competence for young children (PMSC). At T1, AMC was measured with Test of Gross Motor Development-third version (TGMD-3), and at T2, a shortened TGMD-3 was used. To identify the PMC-AMC profiles using latent profile analysis, the Mplus statistical package (version 8.7) was used. For aim 3, the Bolck-Croon-Hagenaars (BCH) method was used. There were 480 children (mean age 6.26 years, 51.9% boys) at T1, 647 children (mean age 8.76 years, 48.8% boys) at T2 (some children were too young to have the PMC assessment at T1), and 292 at both time points. For aim 1, three profiles were identified at each time point for each gender. Boys had two realistic profiles with medium and low levels of PMC-AMC, and an overestimation profile. Girls had a medium realistic profile, an overestimation, and an underestimation profile. The PMC-AMC profile in early childhood predicted the PMC-AMC profile (aim 2) and AMC and PMC variables (aim 3) in middle childhood, especially if a child had low PMC in early childhood. Children with low PMC in early childhood are at risk of low PMC and less AMC development in middle childhood., (© 2023 The Authors. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science In Sports published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Perceived motor competence (PMC) is important to health as it mediates the association between actual motor competence (AMC) and physical activity. Many instruments assess the broader construct of physical self-perception but no scale has been developed to assess PMC in stability. The aim of this study was to develop and analyze the reliability and validity of a new pictorial PMC in stability skill assessment when completed by early adolescents. A Delphi method showed ≥70% of experts' consensus in the seven proposed items. A sample of 904 students (11-14 years old) self-reported PMC in locomotion, object control, and stability using two pictorial scales: Perceived Movement Skill Competence (PMSC) and the newly developed Stability (PMSC_Stability). The Körperkoordinations test for Kinder (KTK) was also administered as a measure of AMC in skills that utilize stability. Two different subsamples were randomly assigned to criterion validity and reliability assessments. Spearman's correlation, confirmatory factor analysis, and a general linear model for sex and age were conducted. The internal consistency (α) and test-retest (intraclass correlation coefficient) reliability values were good (>0.70). A single-factor latent model represented stability and did not differ by sex. Stability perception was associated with AMC (rho = 0.51). Stability is important to the performance of many movement skills (eg, single-leg balance or moving on a narrow surface). Understanding which adolescents have poor stability perception could highlight stability as an area that needs targeting in order to increase physical activity and sport participation., (© 2021 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Longitudinal designs enhance our understanding of children's development and its influence on movement behaviors and health. This three-year follow-up study aimed to develop profiles according to perceived and actual motor competence (MC) (locomotion, object control, and overall) and physical fitness in boys and girls longitudinally including children's temporal migrations among clusters in terms of profiling trends. A secondary aim was to compare physical activity participation and weight status at each time point according to these profiles. One hundred and four typically developing Spanish children (45.8% girls) between 4 and 9 years old at baseline participated in this study. Data were collected at three time points one year apart, between January 2016 and May 2018. A self-organizing map and K-means cluster analysis were used to classify and visualize the values and temporal trajectories longitudinally. The study of the profiles in three consecutive years revealed five profiles, three for boys [ie, profile 1 (aligned-high), profile 2 (aligned-partially-low perception-medium actual MC and fitness), and profile 3 (non-aligned-medium perception-low actual MC and fitness)]; and two for girls [ie, profile 4 (aligned-high) and profile 5 (aligned-low)]. For highly perceived and capable children, boys (profile 1) and girls (profile 4), there was a tendency for higher physical activity participation and lower body mass index and waist circumference over time compared to their counterparts who had medium and/or low levels in perception and actual MC and fitness (P < .05). As children age, those with low values in perceived and actual MC and fitness in object control skills will present a higher probability of maintaining unhealthy lifestyles. So, prior intervention, children's profiles identification should be analyzed according to the type of MC., (© 2020 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Aims: This study aimed to predict the variation in future fundamental movement skills (FMS), physical activity (PA) and body mass index (BMI) from prior FMS, PA, and BMI in British pre-schoolers., Methods: British pre-schoolers (n = 177) underwent assessment of FMS, via the Test of Gross Motor Development 2 (TGMD-2), BMI, and PA, via accelerometer at two time points one year apart. Regression analysis was used to predict the change in PA and BMI in Year 2 from FMS variables in Year 1 and Year 2., Results: Variation in FMS performance between individuals predicted a significant amount of change in BMI, with 12.3 and 9.8% of the change in Year 2 BMI data explained by change in Year 1 and Year 2 FMS data, respectively. Change in FMS performance between individuals predicted a significant amount of change in PA, but was better at predicting change in sedentary activity rather than light or moderate-vigorous activities. A combination of run, throw, dribble, and kick performance predicted 46.1% of the change in sedentary activity between individuals in the 2nd year of testing., Conclusions: FMS mastery at four years of age predicts children's BMI and time spent sedentary at five years of age., (© 2020 The Authors. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science In Sports published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

We investigated child, family, and environmental factors associated with young children's perceptions of locomotor (LM) and object control (OC) skills. The participants comprised 472 children (6.22 ± 0.63) and their parents. The children were assessed for their perception of motor competence in LM and OC skills (using the pictorial scale of Perceived Movement Skill Competence for young children), and actual motor competence (Test of Gross Motor Development 3rd edition and Körperkoordinationstest Für Kinder). Anthropometrics were calculated using the children's body mass index standard deviation scores. A parent questionnaire included questions about child factors (sex, child's independent walking age, time spent sedentary and outdoors, participation in organized sport activities, and access to electronic devices), family factors (parent educational level, physical activity frequency, and sedentary behavior), and environmental factors (access to sport facilities). Variance analysis sought to identify age-related differences, and a linear regression model examined correlates of children's perception of LM and OC skills. The children's movement skill perceptions were found to be generally high. Four factors explained 5.7% of the variance in perceptions of LM skills and 7.5% of the variance in perceptions of OC skills. Two factors, lower age and higher actual motor competence, explained most of the children's skill perceptions. Access to electronic devices (less) and Body mass index (BMI) (higher) were associated with perceptions of LM skills. Participation in organized sport activities (higher) and parental education (lower) were associated with perceptions of OC skills. When promoting children's physical activity and motor competence, perceptions of motor competence are an important consideration., (© 2019 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Purpose: This study examined how motor skills are associated with physical activity (PA), sedentary time, body fat, and day care attendance among young children. Also, the motor skills of healthy weight children were compared to those who were overweight or obese., Methods: The study population consisted of five to six years old children (n = 111; 45 boys) who participated in the longitudinal STEPS Study carried out in Southwest Finland in 2013-2014. Motor skills were measured with the Bruininks-Oseretsky test, second edition (BOT-2) including fine manual control, manual coordination, body coordination, and strength and agility. Moderate-to-vigorous intensity PA (MVPA) and sedentary time were objectively measured with hip-worn accelerometers. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated based on measured weight and height. Body fat percentage (BF%) was measured using segmental multifrequency bio impedance analysis. Day care attendance was measured with parental questionnaires. Linear regression analyses were adjusted by age, sex, and parental education., Results: Day care attendance was positively associated with body coordination and strength and agility. Lower BF% in girls was associated with higher strength and agility scores. There were no associations between manual coordination or fine manual control and the explanatory variables. Objectively measured MVPA and sedentary time showed no associations with motor skills. Overweight children had significantly lower scores in all motor skill composites (P < 0.05) than healthy weight children, except in fine manual control where the association was non-significant (P = 0.202)., Conclusions: Early prevention of overweight and obesity may be of importance and day care attendance may be beneficial for motor skill development., (© 2018 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Children change their body size, shape, and gross motor coordination (GMC) as they grow. Further, GMC is expected to link to changes in children's body size, physical activity (PA), and physical fitness (PF). The objective was to model GMC changes in children followed longitudinally and to investigate associations between these changes and PA and PF levels. A total of 245 children (122 girls) were observed at 6 years of age and followed annually until 9 years. A sequence of allometric models was fitted, that is, 1. body mass, stature, and PA; 2. addition of four PF tests; 3. addition of four more PF tests. In Model 1, changes in GMC are nonlinear, and body mass (-0.60 ± 0.07, P < .001) and stature (2.91 ± 0.35, P < .001) parameter estimates were significant suggesting children with a more linear body size/shape showed higher GMC performances. Girls tend to outperform boys across time, and PA was not associated with GMC changes. Model 2 fitted the data better, and the PF tests (handgrip, standing long jump, 50-yard dash, and shuttle run) were significantly linked to GMC change. In Model 3, adding the remaining PF tests did not change the order of any factors importance. The greatest GMC changes were achieved by children whose body size/shape has an ectomorphic dominance across the years. Considering that leaner and physically fitter children tended to be more coordinated, physical education should also focus on PF development in components related to muscular strength, speed, agility, and aerobic capacity, along with nutritional education to reduce fat mass., (© 2018 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)