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

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.