Development of motor talents and nontalents in preschool age – An exploratory study

Abstract

Using a 21-month longitudinal design, the development of physical characteristics (height, body weight, BMI, skinfold thickness), of physical skills (coordination, fitness, manual dexterity), and cognitive performance (concentration, verbal ability, intelligence) was investigated in 568 children aged 37–78 months. According to their performance in a Motor Test Battery, children were classified at the beginning of the study as high performing (percentile rank > 90 %), average performing (rank > 40 and <60), or underperforming (rank <10 %). Twenty-four children of the high, 54 children of the average, and 27 children of the underperforming groups took part at each of three trials (start, 10, and 21 months later). All groups improved their motor performance over trials. Children with high motor performance at the beginning of the study did perform better in coordination, fitness, and manual dexterity compared to average or low performing children at each trial. And they outperformed children with lower motor skills in concentration at each trial and in intelligence at the end of the study. Underperforming children had higher indices of body weight at each trial compared to high performing children and their health status was considered as less favorable; however, groups did not differ in standing height.

Keywords:

• motor development
• talent
• preschool age
• cognitive abilities
• longitudinal study

Public Interest Statement

Sport is a multi-billion dollar business and the identification of talents is of enormous importance. Although little is known about the development and promotion of motor skills in preschool age, there are efforts to start talent scouting and training in sports such as soccer, gymnastics, tennis, and skating even in four-year olds and sports competition often begins as early as age 6.

The study investigated the development of motor-talented compared to nontalented preschoolers. The talents kept their high position compared to nontalented children for two years not only in coordination, fitness, and manual dexterity, but also in cognitive performance. These findings support the concept of “general talent” compared to “domain-specific talent”. There was also a clear association between skill status and body composition: children of the low performing group were heavier and had greater skinfolds and BMIs compared to talented children.

Competing interests

The author declares no competing interest.

Notes

1. A description of the first edition of the Body Coordination Test can be found in Zaichkowsky, Zaichkowsk, and Martinek (1980) (p. 42 ff).

2. The classification based on predefined occupations is highly associated with income and educational status and is considered a good predictor of social status in Germany (Züll, 2015).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Heinz Krombholz

Heinz Krombholz is currently affiliated to the State Institute of Early Childhood Research in Munich (IFP), Germany. He studied psychology and sports science, received his doctorate (PhD) from the Free University Berlin in 1987, and has worked as a research scientist and lecturer in German universities. His research interests include the development of motor abilities and the promotion of motor skills in children and aspects of health and laterality. He is especially interested in the development of motor-talented children and of children with developmental coordination disorders. Heinz Krombholz has published about 100 contributions and scientific articles in books and peer-reviewed journals.