Influencing preschool children's motor development: A comparison of two groups

Abstract

This study compared the effects of a sensory‐motor condition and an unstructured activities condition on the motor development of preschool children immediately following a 20‐week intervention. The 31 children enrolled in two preschool programs included: #opa#cp a group which experienced a sensory‐motor condition #opN = 16#cp, and #opb#cp a group which experienced an unstructured activities condition #opN = 15#cp. The Peabody Motor Developmental Scales were used to assess the children's motor development prior to and immediately following the 20‐week intervention period. A series of 2 #opgroup#cp x 2 #optesting time#cp repeated measures analyses of variance were used to analyze the impact of the two conditions. Although the motor development of subjects in both groups changed significantly over time, there were no differences between groups.

Key Words:

• Motor development
• preschool children
• sensory‐motor intervention

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Barbara H. Boucher

Barbara H. Boucher adapted this article from a thesis written in partial fulfillment of the requirements for her doctoral degree.

Susan M. Doescher

Susan M. Doescher is Assistant Professor, Department of Child, Consumer, and Family Studies, Washington State University, Pullman WA 99164, USA