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Motor competence of children in Singapore using Movement ABC-2 test
Jernice S Y Tan1, Michael Chia1
1Physical Education and Sports Science, National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.
Insights
Singaporean children aged 3-6 show differences in motor skills compared to UK norms. While strong in balance, they need improvement in aiming and catching, highlighting the need for tailored interventions.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric motor development
- Comparative developmental psychology
Background:
- The Movement Assessment Battery for Children, 2nd Edition (MABC-2) is a global standard for assessing child motor skills.
- There is a significant gap in MABC-2 normative data for the Singaporean population.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare motor competence of Singaporean children (3-6 years) with established UK MABC-2 norms.
- To investigate the effects of age, country, and gender on motor skills in young children.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 175 children in Singapore (aged 3-6 years).
- Statistical analysis was used to compare Singaporean data against UK MABC-2 reference data, examining age, country, and gender influences.
Main Results:
- A positive age effect was observed across all motor tasks.
- Singaporean children demonstrated superior balance skills but underperformed in aiming and catching compared to UK children.
- Girls exhibited better manual dexterity and static balance than boys.
Conclusions:
- Findings suggest Singaporean children require targeted physical activities, particularly those enhancing object manipulation skills.
- Establishing local MABC-2 norms for Singapore is essential for accurate motor delay identification and intervention.
- Country-specific factors should be considered in evaluating motor competence for effective early intervention strategies.
Introduction:
The Movement Assessment Battery for Children, 2nd Edition (MABC-2) test is a valuable tool for identifying motor delays in children globally. However, there has been a lack of data for children in Singapore.
Methods:
This study compared 175 children in Singapore (SG) aged 3-6 years to MABC-2 data based on the United Kingdom (UK) population, using statistical tests to analyze age, country, and gender effects on motor competence.
Results:
The results showed a positive age effect across all tasks, with SG children excelling in balance but lagging in aiming and catching tasks compared to UK children. The interaction between age and country yielded mixed results, favoring different groups at various ages. Additionally, girls displayed better manual dexterity and static balance than boys.
Conclusion:
Encouraging more physical activities, especially those involving object manipulation, is crucial for SG children. Establishing local norms for the MABC-2 in Singapore and considering country-specific factors in motor competence evaluations can enhance early intervention strategies. These findings emphasize the importance of tailored approaches to address motor skill development in SG children.
