A window of opportunity? Motor skills and perceptions of competence of children in Kindergarten
Date
2012-03-15
Authors
LeGear, Mark
Greyling, Lizette
Sloan, Erin
Bell, Rick I
Williams, Buffy-Lynne
Naylor, Patti-Jean
Temple, Viviene A
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
BioMed Central
Abstract
Background: Our aim was to examine the relationship between motor skill proficiency and perceptions of
competence of children in their first year of school. We also explored gender-based differences.
Findings: Participants were 260 kindergarten children (mean age = 5y 9 m; boys = 52%) from eight schools;
representing 78% of eligible children in those schools. Motor skills were measured using the Test of Gross Motor
Development-2 and perceptions of physical competence were assessed using the Pictorial Scale of Perceived
Competence and Social Acceptance for Young Children. Motor skill scores were generally low (percentile ranks
ranged from 16 - 24) but perceptions of physical competence were positive (boys = 18.1/24.0, girls = 19.5/24.0). A
MANOVA showed a significant overall effect for gender (Wilk’s lambda = .84 with F (3, 254) = 15.84, p < 0.001) and
univariate F tests were significant for all outcome variables. The relationship between object control skills and
perceptions of physical competence among girls was not significant; however all other correlations were modest
but significant.
Conclusions: Although motor skill levels were quite low, the children generally held positive perceptions of their
physical competence. These positive perceptions provide a window of opportunity for fostering skillfulness. The
modest relationships between perceptions of competence and motor skill proficiency suggest that the children are
beginning to make self-judgments at a young age. Accordingly, opportunities for children to become and feel
physically competent need to occur early in their school or preschool life.
Description
BioMed Central
Keywords
Motor skills, Perceptions of Competence, Children, Kindergarten, Gender
Citation
LeGear et al.: A window of opportunity? Motor skills and perceptions of competence of children in Kindergarten. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity 2012 9:29.