The effect of the level of physical maturity on the gross motor development of students entering the elementary school
Poster Presentation
Paper ID : 2191-SSRC
Authors
1Assistant professor in motor behavior; department of physical education and sport sciences; Yazd University
2Master in motor behavior; University of Tehran; and physical education teacher Yazd province
Abstract
Background and purpose: motor development can be investigated from three individual, environmental and task constraints. Entering children into school and starting formal education has always been a challenge for parent and families. The condition of children's maturity and the effect of normal, late or early maturity on motor development is not clearly known. The purpose of the present research was to investigate the effect of maturity level on the gross motor development of students at the start of the primary school.
Methodology: This research was a cross-sectional-analytical research that was implemented in a descriptive and field design. The statistical sample of this research was 90 male students entering the first year of elementary school who were selected as available. According to the health records, these students did not have any physical, mental or cognitive problems and were accepted in the formal school entrance exam. The Khamis-Roche standard method was used to determine the state of physical maturity and the third version of gross motor development test (TGMD-3) was used to evaluate the students' motor development scores. One-way analysis of variance test and LSD post hoc was used to compare gross motor growth between three groups with normal, early and late growth. Statistical analyzes were performed using SPSS version 21 software at a significance level of 0.05.
Results: The results showed that the main effect of group was significant (p<0.001). Examining the post hoc tests showed that there was a significant difference between the normal group, late and early (p<0.001); However, no significant difference was observed between late and early group (p<0.05). In all subtests, the group with normal physical height had better scores.
Conclusion: Based on the findings of the research, the importance of normal physical growth and maturity in children's motor development can be emphasized. Considering the lower motor development scores of students with late and early maturity, it is suggested to provide necessary trainings and interventions for the optimal development of motor skills of these students.
Methodology: This research was a cross-sectional-analytical research that was implemented in a descriptive and field design. The statistical sample of this research was 90 male students entering the first year of elementary school who were selected as available. According to the health records, these students did not have any physical, mental or cognitive problems and were accepted in the formal school entrance exam. The Khamis-Roche standard method was used to determine the state of physical maturity and the third version of gross motor development test (TGMD-3) was used to evaluate the students' motor development scores. One-way analysis of variance test and LSD post hoc was used to compare gross motor growth between three groups with normal, early and late growth. Statistical analyzes were performed using SPSS version 21 software at a significance level of 0.05.
Results: The results showed that the main effect of group was significant (p<0.001). Examining the post hoc tests showed that there was a significant difference between the normal group, late and early (p<0.001); However, no significant difference was observed between late and early group (p<0.05). In all subtests, the group with normal physical height had better scores.
Conclusion: Based on the findings of the research, the importance of normal physical growth and maturity in children's motor development can be emphasized. Considering the lower motor development scores of students with late and early maturity, it is suggested to provide necessary trainings and interventions for the optimal development of motor skills of these students.
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