Environmental Correlates of Motor Competence in Children—The Skilled Kids Study

Niemistö, Donna; Finni, Taija; Haapala, Eero A.; Cantell, Marja; Korhonen, Elisa; Sääkslahti, Arja

doi:10.3390/ijerph16111989

Cited by 71 publications

(101 citation statements)

References 51 publications

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“…Therefore, whilst it appears that time outside benefits physical activity, the potential for specific motor skill benefits may be less clear. Although, a recent representative study in Finnish preschool aged children showed time outdoors was related to both object control and locomotor skills [30]. A limitation of the current study is that physical activity type was not assessed.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 90%

Modifiable factors which predict children’s gross motor competence: a prospective cohort study

Barnett

Hnatiuk

Salmon

et al. 2019

Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act

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BackgroundFundamental motor skills (FMS) are important for physical activity and healthy weight status in children, yet it is unclear which early childhood factors facilitate subsequent motor skill. The aim of this prospective study was to investigate which modifiable family and home environment factors in the early years predict children’s FMS at age five.MethodsMothers from the Melbourne InFANT program (registered with the International Standard Randomised Controlled Trial Number Register (ISRCTN81847050)) completed questionnaires when child was aged 4, 9, 19 months old, and 3.5 years old on factors hypothesised to predict motor skills. Some factors were grouped in tertiles (high, medium, low) due to the nature of the distribution. At 5 years old children were assessed on 6 locomotor and 6 object control skills (Test of Gross Motor Development-2). Eight regression models examined the association between factors at each time-point and children’s skills (object control and locomotor) at 5 years old.ResultsThe sample varied by time-point (178 to 259 children). Maternal physical activity optimism (4 months; β = 2.43), home physical activity equipment (9 months; β = 0.82), time outdoors – middle (9 months; β = 2.50) and highest tertile (9 months; β = 2.86), time free to move about - highest tertile (19 months; β = 2.41), time with older children - middle (19 months; β = 3.15) and highest tertile (3.5 years; β = 3.00) were predictive of better locomotor scores. Mothers’ own physical activity (9 months; β = − 0.01) and time active with mum – highest tertile (3.5 years; β = − 3.73) were negatively associated with locomotor skill. Time with older children - highest (4 months; β = 2.27) and middle tertile (19 months; β = 2.97), time free to move about – middle (19 months; β = 2.55) and highest tertile (19 months; β = 2.47), and more home equipment (9 months; β = 0.83); (3.5 years; β = 0.17) were predictive of better object control skills. Maternal physical activity knowledge (3.5 years; β = − 3.05) was negatively associated with object control skill.ConclusionsProviding a supportive environment with older children and equipment, and allowing toddlers’ freedom to move, appears important. Opportunities exist to educate parents on their important role in developing children’s motor skills. Clinicians could advise parents that the home environment can make a difference to their child’s FMS starting from infancy.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 90%

Modifiable factors which predict children’s gross motor competence: a prospective cohort study

Barnett

Hnatiuk

Salmon

et al. 2019

Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act

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“…So far, the studies that used aligned measurements of actual and perceived MC according to the specific MC domain have shown that the relationships were stronger in boys than in girls and in skills related to object control than to self-movement [22,65,66]. This study adds a new developmental view of the analysis of the association between actual and perceived MC: at the age of 10-13 the Chilean boys and girls are able to recognize their actual MC in object control at a moderate level.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Association between Actual and Perceived Motor Competence in School Children

Cárcamo-Oyarzún

Estevan

Herrmann

2020

IJERPH

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(1) Background: The association between actual and perceived motor competence (MC) is one of the underlying mechanisms that influence the practice of physical activity. This study mainly aimed to analyze the structure and correlations between actual and perceived MC in schoolchildren and to compare actual and perceived MC between girls and boys. (2) Methods: A total of 467 fifth and sixth graders (43.9% girls, M = 11.26, SD = 0.70) participated. Actual and perceived MC were assessed. To examine the proposed four factor models, structural equation models (factor analyses, latent correlations, invariance testing for gender) were conducted. Student t-test for independent samples was used to compare boys and girls. (3) Results: Proposed models achieved acceptable fit values with moderate correlation between the factors according to the type of MC in actual and perceived MC. Invariant factor structure in boys and girls was revealed. Boys performed and perceived themselves higher in object control than girls; whereas girls showed higher actual and perceived self-movement than boys. (4) Conclusions: The association between actual and perceived MC exists both globally and separately by gender, despite the differences between boys and girls. It is important to consider the role of gender and type of MC in the development of motor competencies, as well as in the strengthening of the children’s sense of competence.

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“…Ten childcare centers (27%) declined to participate due to a lack of space, interest, time, or a low number of children. The aim of the Skilled Kids study and the recruitment process have been described in detail in previous studies [33,40,41]. For the recruited childcare centers, the respective directors first approved the participation, and the staff was informed about the study.…”

Section: Study Protocol and Participantsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Participation in organized sports was associated with better scores in both assessment tools, underlining the fact that during early childhood, motor development benefits from sports-related hobbies [38,41,58] related to LM skills [27,41], BS [41], and coordination [55]. Although participation in organized sports is mainly positively related to MC development, there may be differences between different environments [41] and countries [59]. Therefore, one should not forget the importance of outdoor play and everyday life choices [59] that help to accumulate more daily PA [60].…”

Section: Individual Correlates Of Motor Competencementioning

confidence: 99%

Individual, Family, and Environmental Correlates of Motor Competence in Young Children: Regression Model Analysis of Data Obtained from Two Motor Tests

Niemistö

Finni

Cantell

et al. 2020

IJERPH

Self Cite

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Physical activity and motor competence (MC) have been considered to be closely related and prevent childhood obesity. The aim of the study was two-fold: to examine MC measured with two different tools in relation to individual, family, and environmental correlates and to investigate gender differences in MC. The Test of Gross Motor Development-Third Edition (TGMD-3) was administered to three- to seven-year-old children (n = 945), while the Körperkoordinationstest für Kinder (KTK) was also used for five- to seven-year-old children (n = 444). The parent questionnaire (n = 936) included questions about individual (e.g., participation in organized sports), family (e.g., parents’ education level), and environmental (e.g., access to sports facilities) correlates. The children’s temperament was assessed using the Colorado Childhood Temperament Inventory (CCTI) questionnaire. Data were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance and linear mixed-effects regression models. The regression models explained 57% and 38% of the variance in TGMD-3 and KTK, respectively. Individual correlates, including older age, more frequent participation in sports, and specific temperament traits of activity and attention span-persistence, were the strongest predictors for better MC. Small gender differences were found in both assessment tools, albeit in a different manner. In conclusion, socioecological correlates of MC in young children are multidimensional, and individual correlates appear to be the most important predictors of MC. Importantly, the correlates can differ according to the MC assessment tools.

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Environmental Correlates of Motor Competence in Children—The Skilled Kids Study

Cited by 71 publications

References 51 publications

Modifiable factors which predict children’s gross motor competence: a prospective cohort study

Modifiable factors which predict children’s gross motor competence: a prospective cohort study

Association between Actual and Perceived Motor Competence in School Children

Individual, Family, and Environmental Correlates of Motor Competence in Young Children: Regression Model Analysis of Data Obtained from Two Motor Tests

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