Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 14, 2026
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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
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Developmental relationships between motor skills and executive functioning in children with intellectual disabilities
Yaping Wang1, Yanchun Liu2, Jingjing Xiang2
1Faculty of Education, Beijing Normal University, Xinjiekouwai Street, Haidian District, Beijing 100875, PR China.
Human Movement Science
|October 22, 2025
Summary
Fine motor skills and executive functioning develop together in children with intellectual disabilities. Interventions combining these skills may enhance development.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Psychology
- Neuroscience
- Special Education
Background:
- A link exists between motor skills and executive functioning.
- This relationship is understudied in children with intellectual disabilities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore developmental relationships between motor skills and executive functioning.
- To investigate these links in children with intellectual disabilities.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study of 101 children with intellectual disabilities (ages 7-17).
- Three measurement points over two years.
- Assessed gross motor skills, fine motor skills, and executive functioning.
Main Results:
- Fine motor skills and executive functioning reciprocally predicted each other.
- Fine motor skills at Time 2 predicted executive functioning at Time 3.
- No significant longitudinal link found between gross motor skills and executive functioning.
Conclusions:
- Fine motor skills are crucial for executive functioning development in children with intellectual disabilities.
- Interventions integrating fine motor and executive functions are recommended.
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