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Is Foundational Movement Skill Competency Important for Keeping Children Physically Active and at a Healthy Weight?

Jonathan D Foulkes1, Zoe Knowles2, Stuart J Fairclough3

  • 1School of Sport & Exercise Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Student Life Building, Copperas Hill, Liverpool L3 5AJ, UK.

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
|January 11, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Foundational movement skills (FMS) increased in young children, but moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) declined. Early FMS and MVPA did not predict later outcomes, suggesting complex relationships in deprived areas.

Area of Science:

  • Child Development
  • Public Health
  • Motor Learning

Background:

  • Foundational movement skills (FMS) are crucial for lifelong physical activity.
  • Children in deprived areas often have lower FMS and physical activity levels.
  • Longitudinal data on FMS, physical activity, and weight status in these populations is limited.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine the longitudinal associations between FMS competency, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), and weight status in preschool children from deprived areas.
  • To investigate if early FMS or MVPA predicts later outcomes over a five-year period.

Main Methods:

  • Longitudinal study of 75 children from early to late childhood.
  • Assessment of 12 FMS using the Children's Activity and Movement in Preschool Motor Skills Protocol and video analysis.
  • Measurement of physical activity via hip-mounted accelerometry over five years (2010-2015).

Main Results:

  • Total and component FMS scores showed an overall increase from baseline to follow-up.
  • MVPA demonstrated an overall decline among participants during the study period.
  • Significant positive associations between FMS and MVPA at baseline weakened over time, with no significant associations at follow-up.
  • Baseline FMS competency and MVPA did not predict follow-up MVPA, weight status, or FMS competency.

Conclusions:

  • The relationship between FMS and MVPA appears complex and may change over time in children from deprived areas.
  • Interventions aiming to improve FMS and increase PA may need a holistic approach considering multiple influencing variables.
  • Further longitudinal research is needed to understand these associations in highly deprived populations.

Keywords:
foundational movement skillfundamental movement skillslongitudinalphysical activitypreschoolprimaryweight status

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