Publication Details
Hands, B. P., & Parker, H. (2003). Physical Wellness: The relationship between motor skill, fitness and physical activity in young children. Our Children the future Early Childhood Conference.
Abstract
The health benefits of adequate physical activity levels for children are well reported. However, we cannot assume that children will choose to be sufficiently active of their own accord. Motor competence and fitness are increasingly highlighted as key co-determinants of physical activity in young children (Hands, Parker, & Larkin, 2001) and where possible strategies to enhance these factors should be included in early childhood settings. However few studies have adopted an integrated view of the collective effects of these three factors on developing healthy children. This presentation explores interrelationships between measures of motor skill competence, fitness, and weekly physical activity level in 44 children aged between 5 and 10 years. These are derived from parent completed questionnaire and physical assessments. In particular the emphasis was on comparing low active and high active children and drawing implications for parents, caregivers and teachers on ways to facilitate children’s physical well being.
Keywords
Published in full, physical activity, children, fitness, motor skill
Comments
Papers and presentations from the Our Children the future Early Childhood Conference are available here