Is there a secular decline in motor skills in preschool children?

Area of Science:

• Child Development
• Motor Skills Research
• Public Health

Background:

• Secular declines in school-aged children's movement skills are documented.
• Limited data exists for preschool children, hindering trend identification.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate secular trends in motor performance and physical characteristics of preschool children.
• To compare motor skills in 2007 with historical data from 1973, 1985, and 1989.

Main Methods:

• The Prevention through Activity in Kindergarten Trial (PAKT) assessed 726 preschool children in 2007.
• Measurements included height, weight, standing long jump, obstacle course, balance, and target throwing.
• Data was compared to historical samples from 1973, 1985, and 1989.

Main Results:

• No significant differences in height and weight were found between 1973 and 2007 samples.
• PAKT children outperformed 1989 samples in standing long jump and matched 1973 performance.
• Significant declines were observed in backward balancing and target throwing for specific age groups compared to 1985.

Conclusions:

• A secular decline in motor skills is evident in some, but not all, preschool children.
• Findings suggest potential shifts in behavioral activity patterns over recent decades.
• Further research is needed to understand the specific factors influencing these motor skill trends.