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Updated: Jun 16, 2026
Measuring the Functional Abilities of Children Aged 3-6 Years Old with Observational Methods and Computer Tools
Published on: June 20, 2020
Development and standardization of a "do-eat" activity of daily living performance test for children
Naomi Josman1, Ayelet Goffer, Sara Rosenblum
1Department of Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Social Welfare and Health Sciences, University of Haifa, Mount Carmel, Haifa 31905, Israel. naomij@research.haifa.ac.il
Background:
The Do-Eat was developed to evaluate daily task performance abilities among children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD). This study investigated the tool's reliability and validity.
Method:
Participants were 59 children ages 5 to 6.5 years; 30 children diagnosed with DCD according to the DSM-IV-TR; and a control group of 29 children, who were matched for age, gender, and sociodemographic background.
Results:
Both the Do-Eat and the accompanying Parent Questionnaire yielded high internal consistency (alpha s = .89-.93). Construct validity was demonstrated by significant between-group differences on the Do-Eat (t[57] = 14.09, p<.001) and the Parent Questionnaire (t[57] = 3.64, p<.001). Significant correlations between children's scores on the sensory-motor component of the Do-Eat and the Movement Assessment Battery for Children final score confirmed concurrent validity (r = -.86, p<.001).
Conclusions:
Results suggest that the Do-Eat is a reliable, valid tool for identifying children at risk for DCD.
