PREDICTORS AND TRENDS OF GROSS MOTOR SKILL PERFORMANCE IN AT-RISK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN

-The purpose of this study was to examine the predictors and trends of gross motor skills in children from low-income families. The participants were 1,460 children (M age=8.39 yr., SD=1.83; K-6th grade) recruited from three Title I schools. The Test of Gross Motor Development-2nd Edition (TGMD-2) assessed motor skills, FITNESSGRAM assessed health-related fitness, and pedometers and accelerometers measured moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). Multi-level modeling revealed that TGMD-2 scores predicted aerobic capacity, but no other relationships were found with other Healthy Fitness Zone parameters or MVPA. TGMD-2 performance was 4.8 and 4.7% greater in successively higher grade levels for girls and boys, respectively. In conclusion, TGMD-2 scores predict aerobic capacity and TGMD-2 scores improved between 4 and 5% in older grade cohorts separated by 1 year.