Motor competence and implications in primary school

Abstract

The level of motor competence for six-year-old children are of special interest because at this age they have started at school, and they have to master new requirements. Ninety-four children were tested in fine- and gross- motor skills, by the Movement ABC test. Within the fifth percentile of the USA norms, 9.6 % of the children would have to be classified as to have motor problems, with 11.7% classified in the ‘borderline’ group. Sex difference were apparent in the section for manual dexterity, but in the sections balance and ball skills there were no significant differences, however, the girls were shown some better performance in balance skills. Finding from the present study shows boys falling into the motor impaired group to 12% and 6.8% for the girls. The cross-sectional data may provide a basis for recommendations for intervention programme for children with low motor competence in the primary school.