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Motor Proficiency in Young Children

Author

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  • Fotini Venetsanou
  • Antonis Kambas

Abstract

This study aimed to examine motor proficiency in young children, focusing on potential gender differences. For that purpose, the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency–Long Form (BOTMP-LF) was administered to 540 children (272 boys), 4½ to 6 years old. First, the 2 (sex) × 4 (age groups) ANOVA computed on children’s total BOTMP-LF scores showed that age had a statistically significant effect, whereas gender did not. Second, the one-way MANCOVA applied on subtest scores, with age as covariate, revealed statistical significant gender differences; however, η 2 values were found to be small or moderate. Finally, the MANCOVA applied on items where significant gender differences have been reported showed a significant effect of gender. Nonetheless, η 2 values exceeded the limit of practical significance only on two items (“standing on preferred leg on floor†, “throwing a ball at a target with preferred hand†) that are associated with gender-stereotyped activities. It can be concluded that (a) besides statistical significance, effect sizes should be examined for the results of a study to be adequately interpreted; (b) young boys’ and girls’ motor proficiency is similar rather than different. Gender differences in specific skills should be used for movement programs to be individualized.

Suggested Citation

  • Fotini Venetsanou & Antonis Kambas, 2016. "Motor Proficiency in Young Children," SAGE Open, , vol. 6(1), pages 21582440156, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:sagope:v:6:y:2016:i:1:p:2158244015626226
    DOI: 10.1177/2158244015626226
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    Cited by:

    1. Stefanos Boutios & Giovanni Fiorilli & Andrea Buonsenso & Panagiotis Daniilidis & Marco Centorbi & Mariano Intrieri & Alessandra di Cagno, 2021. "The Impact of Age, Gender and Technical Experience on Three Motor Coordination Skills in Children Practicing Taekwondo," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(11), pages 1-11, June.
    2. Livia Taverna & Marta Tremolada & Liliana Dozza & Renata Zanin Scaratti & Domahs Ulrike & Carlo Lallo & Barbara Tosetto, 2020. "Who Benefits from An Intervention Program on Foundational Skills for Handwriting Addressed to Kindergarten Children and First Graders?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(6), pages 1-24, March.
    3. Nadia Cristina Valentini & Marcelo Gonçalves Duarte & Larissa Wagner Zanella & Glauber Carvalho Nobre, 2022. "Test of Gross Motor Development-3: Item Difficulty and Item Differential Functioning by Gender and Age with Rasch Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(14), pages 1-17, July.
    4. Martha Spanou & Nektarios Stavrou & Aspasia Dania & Fotini Venetsanou, 2022. "Children’s Involvement in Different Sport Types Differentiates Their Motor Competence but Not Their Executive Functions," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-11, May.
    5. Bin Li & Ruijie Li & Haiquan Qin & Tao Chen & Jingyu Sun, 2022. "Effects of Chinese Martial Arts on Motor Skills in Children between 5 and 6 Years of Age: A Randomized Controlled Trial," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(16), pages 1-14, August.

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