Prevalence and risk factors of pre-schoolers' fine motor delay within vulnerable Australian communities

Area of Science:

• Developmental Pediatrics
• Child Psychology
• Public Health

Background:

• Fine motor skills are crucial for early childhood development and academic success.
• Prevalence and risk factors for fine motor delay in vulnerable populations require further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of fine motor delay in Australian preschoolers from low-income communities.
• To identify child and environmental risk factors associated with fine motor delay.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from the Early Start Baseline Study, including 700 preschoolers.
• Assessed fine motor skills using the Ages and Stages Questionnaire (3rd edn.).
• Analyzed associations between fine motor skills and demographic, executive function, and family characteristics.

Main Results:

• 10.4% of children exhibited fine motor delay, with an additional 12.1% at risk.
• Higher odds of delay were observed in males (OR 3.30) and Indigenous children (OR 3.31).
• Lower self-regulation (OR 2.17) was linked to delay, while higher vocabulary, family income, and education were protective.

Conclusions:

• Nearly one in four children in vulnerable communities experience fine motor difficulties.
• Early screening is essential for identifying children at risk.
• Targeting identified child and environmental risk factors can mitigate fine motor delay.