Motor skills in Peruvian preschool children: A cross-sectional study

Introduction Motor skills encompass a series of movements essential for daily activities and have been associated with well-being and child development. However, there are various external and internal conditions that can affect children’s motor development. Therefore, the purpose of our study was t...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Joel Figueroa-Quiñones, Karem Julissa Pariona Espino, Ashley Oliveros Marquez, Cesar Ortiz Huamán, Kiara Saravia Huamán, Kerrily Fiorell Fernández Castilla
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Medwave Estudios Limitada 2025-07-01
Series:Medwave
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.medwave.cl/investigacion/estudios/3056.html
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849239230182588416
author Joel Figueroa-Quiñones
Karem Julissa Pariona Espino
Ashley Oliveros Marquez
Cesar Ortiz Huamán
Kiara Saravia Huamán
Kerrily Fiorell Fernández Castilla
author_facet Joel Figueroa-Quiñones
Karem Julissa Pariona Espino
Ashley Oliveros Marquez
Cesar Ortiz Huamán
Kiara Saravia Huamán
Kerrily Fiorell Fernández Castilla
author_sort Joel Figueroa-Quiñones
collection DOAJ
description Introduction Motor skills encompass a series of movements essential for daily activities and have been associated with well-being and child development. However, there are various external and internal conditions that can affect children’s motor development. Therefore, the purpose of our study was to analyze the motor skills of Peruvian children aged three to six years and compare differences based on region, sex, age, and type of educational institution. Methods An observational study was conducted with a sample of 265 children aged three to six years from public and private institutions in three regions of Peru: the central region (Metropolitan Lima), the jungle region (Tarapoto), and the southern region (Chincha Alta). The Test of Gross Motor Development, Third Edition (TGMD-3) was applied. Data were processed and analyzed using descriptive statistics and non-parametric tests such as the Mann-Whitney U test and Kruskal-Wallis test (p<0.05). Additionally, a multiple linear regression analysis with robust standard errors was conducted. Results The results revealed significant differences between regions. Children from the Selva (Tarapoto) and Sur (Chincha) regions of Peru reported higher scores than those from the central region. In addition, girls reported higher scores than boys in locomotor skills. Also, it was found that motor performance usually reaches better performance after five years and six months of age. Conclusions It is concluded that infant motor performance varies by region, age and sex. Therefore, future interventions adjusted for these variables are required to strengthen and improve these skills.
format Article
id doaj-art-23a25613f3ba4bcaa2ed64c618ef55ec
institution Kabale University
issn 0717-6384
language English
publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher Medwave Estudios Limitada
record_format Article
series Medwave
spelling doaj-art-23a25613f3ba4bcaa2ed64c618ef55ec2025-08-20T04:01:08ZengMedwave Estudios LimitadaMedwave0717-63842025-07-012506e3056e305610.5867/medwave.2025.06.3056Motor skills in Peruvian preschool children: A cross-sectional studyJoel Figueroa-Quiñones0https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3907-7606Karem Julissa Pariona Espino1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5044-8861Ashley Oliveros Marquez2https://orcid.org/0009-0009-6313-4448Cesar Ortiz Huamán3https://orcid.org/0009-0003-6587-6775Kiara Saravia Huamán4https://orcid.org/0009-0004-9265-5254Kerrily Fiorell Fernández Castilla5https://orcid.org/0009-0006-2446-6595Escuela Profesional de Psicología, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma de Ica, Ica, PerúEscuela Profesional de Psicología, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma de Ica, Ica, PerúEscuela Profesional de Psicología, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma de Ica, Ica, PerúEscuela Profesional de Psicología, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma de Ica, Ica, PerúEscuela Profesional de Psicología, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma de Ica, Ica, PerúEscuela Profesional de Psicología, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma de Ica, Ica, PerúIntroduction Motor skills encompass a series of movements essential for daily activities and have been associated with well-being and child development. However, there are various external and internal conditions that can affect children’s motor development. Therefore, the purpose of our study was to analyze the motor skills of Peruvian children aged three to six years and compare differences based on region, sex, age, and type of educational institution. Methods An observational study was conducted with a sample of 265 children aged three to six years from public and private institutions in three regions of Peru: the central region (Metropolitan Lima), the jungle region (Tarapoto), and the southern region (Chincha Alta). The Test of Gross Motor Development, Third Edition (TGMD-3) was applied. Data were processed and analyzed using descriptive statistics and non-parametric tests such as the Mann-Whitney U test and Kruskal-Wallis test (p<0.05). Additionally, a multiple linear regression analysis with robust standard errors was conducted. Results The results revealed significant differences between regions. Children from the Selva (Tarapoto) and Sur (Chincha) regions of Peru reported higher scores than those from the central region. In addition, girls reported higher scores than boys in locomotor skills. Also, it was found that motor performance usually reaches better performance after five years and six months of age. Conclusions It is concluded that infant motor performance varies by region, age and sex. Therefore, future interventions adjusted for these variables are required to strengthen and improve these skills.https://www.medwave.cl/investigacion/estudios/3056.htmlchildrenmotor skillsmotor activitypreschoolpsychomotor performance
spellingShingle Joel Figueroa-Quiñones
Karem Julissa Pariona Espino
Ashley Oliveros Marquez
Cesar Ortiz Huamán
Kiara Saravia Huamán
Kerrily Fiorell Fernández Castilla
Motor skills in Peruvian preschool children: A cross-sectional study
Medwave
children
motor skills
motor activity
preschool
psychomotor performance
title Motor skills in Peruvian preschool children: A cross-sectional study
title_full Motor skills in Peruvian preschool children: A cross-sectional study
title_fullStr Motor skills in Peruvian preschool children: A cross-sectional study
title_full_unstemmed Motor skills in Peruvian preschool children: A cross-sectional study
title_short Motor skills in Peruvian preschool children: A cross-sectional study
title_sort motor skills in peruvian preschool children a cross sectional study
topic children
motor skills
motor activity
preschool
psychomotor performance
url https://www.medwave.cl/investigacion/estudios/3056.html
work_keys_str_mv AT joelfigueroaquinones motorskillsinperuvianpreschoolchildrenacrosssectionalstudy
AT karemjulissaparionaespino motorskillsinperuvianpreschoolchildrenacrosssectionalstudy
AT ashleyoliverosmarquez motorskillsinperuvianpreschoolchildrenacrosssectionalstudy
AT cesarortizhuaman motorskillsinperuvianpreschoolchildrenacrosssectionalstudy
AT kiarasaraviahuaman motorskillsinperuvianpreschoolchildrenacrosssectionalstudy
AT kerrilyfiorellfernandezcastilla motorskillsinperuvianpreschoolchildrenacrosssectionalstudy