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The KörperkoordinationsTest für Kinder: reference values and suitability for 6-12-year-old children in Flanders
B Vandorpe1, J Vandendriessche, J Lefevre
1Department of Movement and Sports Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium. barbara.vandorpe@ugent.be
Insights
Gross motor coordination in children is crucial for development. This study found Flemish children scored worse than German counterparts, with 21% in a problematic range, highlighting a need for intervention.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric motor development
- Childhood kinesiology
- Educational psychology
Background:
- Adequate gross motor coordination is vital for children's overall development, impacting health, psychosocial, academic, and well-being.
- Assessing coordination is essential for identifying developmental needs and potential issues early on.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the KörperkoordinationsTest für Kinder (KTK) as an assessment tool for gross motor coordination in Flemish children.
- To establish age and gender-specific normative values for Flemish children.
- To compare current coordination levels with historical data.
Main Methods:
- The study involved 2470 children from 26 elementary schools in Flanders and Brussels.
- Children completed four KTK subtests: walking backwards, moving sideways, hopping for height, and jumping sideways.
- Age and gender-specific values were determined for the Flemish cohort.
Main Results:
- The current sample of Flemish children scored significantly lower than German children from 1974.
- 21% of the children assessed fell into the problematic range for gross motor coordination.
- Coordination declined in tasks emphasizing coordination (walking backwards, moving sideways), while strength/speed-dependent tasks remained stable or improved.
Conclusions:
- The KTK is a suitable instrument for assessing gross motor coordination in Flemish children.
- A concerning decline in children's coordination necessitates targeted interventions.
- Further research and public health initiatives are recommended to address this trend.
Abstract:
An adequate coordination level in children is important for their general development, but also for health, psychosocial, academic and well-being-related reasons. In this study, the suitability of the KörperkoordinationsTest für Kinder (KTK) as an assessment instrument for the gross motor coordination was evaluated in 2470 children from 26 elementary schools for general education spread over the Flemish and Brussels-capital region. All children performed four subtests: walking backwards (WB), moving sideways (MS), hopping for height (HH) and jumping sideways (JS). Age and gender-specific values were established for the Flemish children anno 2008. Overall, the current sample scored significantly worse than their 1974 German counterparts (P<0.001). Score distribution showed 21% of the children being placed in the problematic range of gross motor coordination level. A decline in coordination was observed especially in those tasks relying primarily on coordinative capacities (WB and MS), while improvements or status quo in those tasks relying on strength and speed (JS and HH) were explained by secular trends. We suggest that the KTK is a valuable instrument for the assessment of the gross motor coordination of Flemish children and efforts should be made in order to face the decline in coordination.
