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Measuring the Functional Abilities of Children Aged 3-6 Years Old with Observational Methods and Computer Tools
Published on: June 20, 2020
Developing a Scale for Measuring the Fundamental Movement Skills of Preschool Children in China
Yong Chen1, Ying Gu2, Ying Tian2
1Department of Physical Education, Huaiyin Normal University, Huai'an 223300, China.
Insights
A new scale accurately measures fundamental movement skills (FMS) in Chinese preschool children. This tool is vital for monitoring FMS development in this age group.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric physical education and development
- Motor skill assessment and evaluation
Background:
- Preschool children (aged 3-6 years) are in a critical developmental stage for fundamental movement skills (FMS).
- A validated measurement scale for FMS in Chinese preschool children was previously unavailable.
Approach:
- Developed a novel FMS measurement scale for Chinese preschool children by integrating process- and results-oriented evaluation methods.
- The scale comprises 12 items across three dimensions: physical locomotion, object control, and physical stability skills.
- Validated the scale through expert review and testing for inter-rater reliability, test/retest reliability, homogeneity, and construct validity with 358 children.
Key Points:
- The developed scale demonstrates good reliability, validity, and sensitivity.
- It accurately reflects the FMS development level of preschool children in China.
- The scale is suitable for ongoing monitoring of FMS in this population.
Conclusions:
- Successfully created and validated a culturally relevant FMS measurement scale for Chinese preschool children.
- This scale addresses a critical gap in assessing and monitoring early childhood motor development in China.
Abstract:
Children aged 3-6 years (preschool children hereafter) are in a critical and sensitive period of developing fundamental movement skills (FMS). While appropriate measurement tools can accurately evaluate their FMS development, such a scale is lacking in China. In this study, a suitable scale for measuring the FMS of preschool children in China was developed by combining process- and results-oriented evaluation methods. The subjects of this cross-sectional study included 21 experts and 358 preschool children (188 boys and 170 girls). Based on a literature review, items suitable for measuring the FMS of preschool children in China were selected, and the final measurement scale includes 12 items in three dimensions: physical locomotion skills, object control skills, and physical stability skills. After a battery of tests to assess its suitability, including inter-rater reliability, test/retest reliability, homogeneity, and construct validity, we find that the proposed measurement scale has good reliability, validity, and sensitivity. This scale reflects the development level of the FMS of preschool children in China and can be used to monitor the FMS of this population in the future.
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