Is it possible to identify physical-motor profiles of preschool children on their association with selected biosocial factors?

Biosocial factors play a crucial role in the physical-motor development (PMD) of children during the preschool age. The present study aims to identify physical-motor profiles throughout preschool age (3-6 years) and explore associations between profiles and selected biosocial factors such as age, sex, prematurity, weight, height, BMI, and participation in extracurricular physical activities. Data from 412 typically developing children (46.6% girls and 53.4% boys), aged 35-71 months (M = 51.21, SD = 10.47) was collected using the Psychomotor Activities Checklist and specifically the scale of Psycho-Motor Aspects. Cluster analysis made it possible to define four different childhood PMD profiles. High PMD; High PMD except left laterality; medium-low PMD; and low PMD. High PMD profile includes older children, with anthropometric measurements closer to the WHO recommendations, fewer preterm children, and greater participation in extracurricular physical activities. Low PMD profile includes younger children, with weight slightly above and height slightly below the WHO recommendations and low participation in extracurricular physical activities. This study allows us to identify specific trends that may be decisive for the motor development of children throughout preschool age, highlighting selected biological variables and participation in extracurricular physical activities.

Exploring the Impact of a TPSR Program on Transference of Responsibility Goals within a Preschool Setting: An Action Research Study.

The teaching personal and social responsibility (TPSR) model has been extensively used in a vast array of settings. However, few TPSR studies have focused on preschool settings. The purpose of this action research study was to analyze the experiences of a program leader, her preschool children, and their parents throughout a TPSR program focused on transference of responsibility model goals. The participants were 25 preschool children, six parents, and a program leader involved in a preschool setting located in the north of Portugal. Data were collected through reflexive journaling, participant observations, semi-structured interviews, and focus group interviews. Findings suggest the TPSR model could be a useful instructional model for preschool teachers focused on providing social and emotional learning opportunities to their students. In order to foster transference, parents played a pivotal role in this process and were included in the intervention, which appeared to enhance life skill transfer.

Influence of age, sex and somatic variables on the motor performance of pre-school children.

BACKGROUND: Biological factors can affect the motor development process of children. However, the magnitude of these effects throughout the developmental process remains fairly unknown. AIM: To determine the influence of age, sex and selected somatic measures on the motor performance of pre-school children. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Three hundred and sixty-seven pre-schoolers (172 boys and 195 girls), aged from 3-5 years old, were recruited from 10 public pre-schools located in the district of Viana do Castelo, Portugal. The children's motor performance was assessed by five motor sub-tests of Peabody Developmental Motor Scales-2: grasping, visuo-motor integration, stationary, locomotion and object manipulation sub-tests. Age, sex, height, weight and BMI were considered as hypothetical predictors of motor performance. Pearson's correlation test and multiple linear regression analysis were used to explore the magnitude of the relationship between motor sub-tests and the hypothetical predictors. RESULTS: Depending on the motor sub-test and age group, the models predicted motor performance from a minimum of 3.6% to a maximum of 34.4%. Age in months and sex stood out as the main predictors of motor performance. CONCLUSIONS: The relationship between motor performance and selected biological factors varied with age and with the specificity of the motor test.

Motor profile of Portuguese preschool children on the Peabody Developmental Motor Scales-2: a cross-cultural study.

This study was designed to examine the cultural sensitivity of the PDMS-2 for Portuguese preschool children aged 36-71 months. A total of 540 children (255 males and 285 females) from 15 public preschools of Viana do Castelo, Portugal, were assessed. Age and gender effects in motor performance were examined. Results indicated that PDMS-2 is valid instrument to differentiate Portuguese age groups. Girls presented higher scores than boys in the Grasping and Visuo-motor integration subtests and lower scores in the Object Manipulation subtest. Portuguese preschoolers performed above US norms on Grasping, Visual-motor integration, and Stationary subtests, and bellow on Locomotion and Object Manipulation subtests. Overall, Portuguese children showed better results on the Fine Motor Quotient comparing to the Gross Motor Quotient. These results underline different motor development profiles between Portuguese and American children.

Adaptação e validação da versão portuguesa Peabody Developmental Motor Scales-2: um estudo com crianças pré-escolares / Adaptation and validation of the Portuguese Peabody Developmental Motor Scales-2 version: A study with preschoolers children

Este estudo objetivou testar as propriedades psicométricas das Peabody Developmental Motor Scales II (PDMS-2) (FOLIO; FEWELL, 2000) em uma amostra de crianças pré-escolares portuguesas. A versão portuguesa PDMS-2 foi aplicada de acordo com o protocolo de avaliação descrito no manual dessa versão a 540 crianças com idades compreendidas entre 36 e 71 meses, provenientes de quinze estabelecimentos do ensino pré-escolar público. Os resultados da análise fatorial confirmatória (S-Bχ2=3.3, p=.349; CFI=1.0; NFI=.99; NNFI=.99; RMSEA=.013) suportam que a versão portuguesa apresenta um modelo de dois fatores (motricidade fina e motricidade global), tal como a versão original. A maioria dos subtestes apresentou um bom índice de consistência interna (α=.76 a .95) e uma boa estabilidade teste-reteste (ICC=.85 a .95). Os resultados indicam que a versão portuguesa PDMS-2 é um instrumento preciso e válido para avaliar as habilidades motoras globais e finas das crianças portuguesas em idade pré-escolar.

The purpose of this study was to examine the psychometric proprieties of the Peabody Developmental Motor Scales II (PDMS-2) (FOLIO; FEWELL, 2000), using a Portuguese sample group. The Portuguese version of PDMS-2 was applied, according to the manual guidelines of PDMS-2, to 540 children, aged 36 to 71 months from fifteen preschools. The results of the confirmatory factor analysis (S-Bχ2=3.3, p=.349; CFI =1.0, NFI =.99, NNFI=.99, RMSEA =.013) support that the Portuguese version presents a model of two factors (Fine and Gross Motor) as does the original version. Most of the subtests showed a good internal consistency (α = .76 to .95) and good test-retest reliability (ICC = .85 to .95). These findings indicate that the Portuguese version PDMS-2 is an accurate and valid tool to assess the gross and fine motor skills of Portuguese preschoolers.

Development and construct validation of an inventory for assessing the home environment for motor development.

A contemporary view of early childhood motor development considers environmental influences as critical factors in optimal growth and behavior, with the home being the primary agent. However, there has been minimal research examining the relationship between motor development and the home. The present study addresses this gap with the goal of creating an innovative parental self-report instrument to assess the quality and quantity of factors (affordances and events) in the home that are conducive to enhancing motor development in children ages 18-42 months. Following initial face validity determination, expert opinion feedback and selective pilot testing, construct validity was examined using 321 Portuguese families. Factor analysis techniques were used to: (a) compare competingf actorial models according to previous theoretical assumptions, and (b) analyze the fit of the preferred model. Of the five plausible models tested, the five-factor solution provided the best fit to the data. Reliability was established through the scale reliability coefficient with a value of .85. The findings of this study suggest that the Affordances in the Home Environment for Motor Development Self-Report is a valid and reliable instrument to assess how well home environments afford movement and potentially promote motor development.