Preschool Children's Motor Development and Self-Concept

Abstract

The relationships among age, motor age, and perceived competence of 31 preschool children were explored. The Peabody Motor Developmental Scales and the Pictorial Scale of Perceived Competence and Social Acceptance assessed children's motor age and perceived competence, respectively. Stepwise regression analyses indicated that age followed by perceived competence contributed significantly to children's motor age. However, neither age nor motor age contributed significantly to perceived competence.

Can personal and environmental factors explain dimensions of child participation?

“…A child's self-perception of his/her own competence (Harter & Pike 1984;Missiuna and Pollock 2000) is a motivational factor that refers to his/her belief that he/she will be able to perform a task competently. Previous findings reveal that the child's self-perception of his/her own competence predicts his/her actual level of function and academic performance (Boucher et al 1993;Mantzicopoulos 2006). Our findings reveal that for children without disabilities, whether the selfperception of competence is related to actual capability or not, higher self-perception of competence produces greater selfreliant participation accomplishment in daily activities.…”

“…A child's self‐perception of his/her own competence (Harter & Pike 1984; Missiuna and Pollock 2000) is a motivational factor that refers to his/her belief that he/she will be able to perform a task competently. Previous findings reveal that the child's self‐perception of his/her own competence predicts his/her actual level of function and academic performance (Boucher et al . 1993; Mantzicopoulos 2006).…”

Personal and Social Bases of Children's Self-Concepts about Physical Movement

“…It is plausible that children's self-concepts may reflect their actual performance at physical activities. Boucher, Doescher, and Sugawara (1993) highlighted the positive role of self-concepts in preschool children's motor development, although correlations were not strong (P = .29). Other studies of physical development (e.g., Emmanouel, Zervas, & Vagenas, 1992) suggest that children's physical skills and self-concepts may each have a different basis.…”