Sex differences in fundamental movement skills of a selected group of 6-year-old South African children

ABSTRACT

Background: Motor competence is emerging as an important marker of health, while adequate basic movement patterns, body control and body awareness are important building blocks of more specialized body movements and scholastic adjustment during early childhood. This study examined fundamental movement skill competency and explored sex differences in 6-year-old children. Method: A convenience sample (N = 72, 35 boys, 37 girls, 6.3 years) was assessed cross-sectionally, using both qualitative and quantitative methods of assessing locomotor (8), object control (4), stability (6), body awareness (3), and body coordination skills (3). Results: Descriptive statistics, frequency tables and independent t-testing (p ≤ .05) indicated that overall body coordination and throwing skills showed poor mastery. Sex differences favouring girls were found in rope jumping, one-legged balancing, hopping and body awareness (p < .05) while boys showed superior kicking skills (p = .04). Conclusion: Opportunities should be provided to improve overall body coordination, body awareness, and stability skills in boys, and object control skills in girls with targeted support in certain skills.

KEYWORDS:

• Fundamental movement skills
• perceptual-motor skills
• motor competence
• 6-year-olds
• sex

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on contributors

Prof. Anita E. Pienaar is a professor within the School of Biokinetics, Sport en Recreation, and programme leader within the Kinderkinetics programme in this School at the North-West University (NWU), Potchefstroom Campus. She obtained her PhD degree in 1994 at the former PU vir CHO. Her training responsibilities at the NWU include modules on undergraduate and postgraduate levels, as well as guidance to several masters and doctoral students in the field of Kinderkinetics and Sport Science. She plays a leading role in several research projects with regard to the growth, perceptual-motor and physical development of children and the influence of different factors within the context of the South African population on children's school- and sport performance, as well as the improvement thereof. She was bestowed an honorary award in 2012 by the South African Academy for Science and Art for her contribution to the expansion of subject-specific knowledge in this field.

Irma van Reenen obtained her B.Sc. MBW & Physiology degree in 2013 at the North-West University (NWU) and specialized in Kinderkinetics in the following Honours year. She is a full-time Kinderkineticist practising in Potchefstroom at different settings and is currently enrolled for a part time M.Sc. thesis.

Angelique Weber obtained her BA MBW & Psychology degree in 2013 at the North-West University (NWU) and specialized in Kinderkinetics in the following Honours year. She is now a full-time Kinderkineticist practising in a private practice in Carletonville.