Sex differences in fundamental movement skills of a selected group of 6-year-old South African children

Abstract

Background: Motor competence is emerging as an important marker of health, while adequate basic movement patterns, body control and body awareness are important building blocks of more specialized body movements and scholastic adjustment during early childhood. This study examined fundamental movement skill competency and explored sex differences in 6-year-old children. Method: A convenience sample (N = 72, 35 boys, 37 girls, 6.3 years) was assessed cross-sectionally, using both qualitative and quantitative methods of assessing locomotor (8), object control (4), stability (6), body awareness (3), and body coordination skills (3). Results: Descriptive statistics, frequency tables and independent t-testing (p ≤ .05) indicated that overall body coordination and throwing skills showed poor mastery. Sex differences favouring girls were found in rope jumping, one-legged balancing, hopping and body awareness (p < .05) while boys showed superior kicking skills (p = .04). Conclusion: Opportunities should be provided to improve overall body coordination, body awareness, and stability skills in boys, and object control skills in girls with targeted support in certain skills