Geographical and gender differences in the development of motor skills in preschool children

Abstract

Motor development during childhood is fundamental for acquiring advanced perceptual and cognitive skills, playing a pivotal role in personal development and skill acquisition later in life. This study aims to investigate differences in the motor skills of children between the ages of 3 to 5, based on their geographic location (urban or rural) and gender. A cohort of 94 Portuguese children between the ages of 3 and 5 years old (comprising 48 boys and 46 girls) were selected for a study. Data collection was conducted within 8 different schools, and motor skills were assessed utilizing the MOBAK-KG test. It was observed that children from urban areas outperformed those from rural areas in motor skills related to body and object control. On the contrary, girls' motor skills did not show significant differences according to their geographical location. Although the geographical environment influences children's motor development, other factors, such as socio-economic and cultural factors, may have a greater impact on girls. These findings emphasise the significance of focusing on the motor development of girls and examining how cultural and gender expectations can impact their motor skills.