Executive function skills predict motor competence in preschool children
Abstract Background Motor competence and executive function skills develop actively at preschool age. Both are important for socialization, school achievements, and well-being. However, the association between motor competence and executive functions has not yet been fully investigated in preschool...
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| Format: | Article |
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BMC
2025-03-01
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| Series: | BMC Pediatrics |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-025-05582-z |
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| author | Elena Chichinina Margarita Gavrilova Patrik Drid |
| author_facet | Elena Chichinina Margarita Gavrilova Patrik Drid |
| author_sort | Elena Chichinina |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Motor competence and executive function skills develop actively at preschool age. Both are important for socialization, school achievements, and well-being. However, the association between motor competence and executive functions has not yet been fully investigated in preschool children. This study aimed to explore which executive function skills may be predictors of motor competence and its components. Methods Two hundred seventy-two typically developing 5- to 6-year-old children (46% girls) participated in this study. The motor competence assessment tool 'Movement Assessment Battery for Children-2' was used on the Russian sample for the first time. Results The study revealed that higher motor inhibition, working memory, and age were significant predictors of higher motor competence, manual dexterity, and balance skills. Higher aiming and catching skills were predicted only by higher motor inhibition and age. The study also revealed that girls had higher manual dexterity and balance skills than boys. And boys had higher than girls aiming and catching skills. Conclusion The obtained result with the largest effect size allows us to assume that training in motor inhibition could probably help improve movement difficulties, especially in manual dexterity skills. Clinical trial number Not applicable. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-a6c7e9e4d1224954bd21389878c0d57c |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1471-2431 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Pediatrics |
| spelling | doaj-art-a6c7e9e4d1224954bd21389878c0d57c2025-08-20T02:10:10ZengBMCBMC Pediatrics1471-24312025-03-0125111210.1186/s12887-025-05582-zExecutive function skills predict motor competence in preschool childrenElena Chichinina0Margarita Gavrilova1Patrik Drid2Department of Education Psychology and Pedagogy, Faculty of Psychology, Lomonosov Moscow State UniversityDepartment of Education Psychology and Pedagogy, Faculty of Psychology, Lomonosov Moscow State UniversityFaculty of Sport and Physical Education, University of Novi SadAbstract Background Motor competence and executive function skills develop actively at preschool age. Both are important for socialization, school achievements, and well-being. However, the association between motor competence and executive functions has not yet been fully investigated in preschool children. This study aimed to explore which executive function skills may be predictors of motor competence and its components. Methods Two hundred seventy-two typically developing 5- to 6-year-old children (46% girls) participated in this study. The motor competence assessment tool 'Movement Assessment Battery for Children-2' was used on the Russian sample for the first time. Results The study revealed that higher motor inhibition, working memory, and age were significant predictors of higher motor competence, manual dexterity, and balance skills. Higher aiming and catching skills were predicted only by higher motor inhibition and age. The study also revealed that girls had higher manual dexterity and balance skills than boys. And boys had higher than girls aiming and catching skills. Conclusion The obtained result with the largest effect size allows us to assume that training in motor inhibition could probably help improve movement difficulties, especially in manual dexterity skills. Clinical trial number Not applicable.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-025-05582-zPreschool childrenExecutive function skillsMotor competenceManual dexterityAiming and catching skillsBalance skills |
| spellingShingle | Elena Chichinina Margarita Gavrilova Patrik Drid Executive function skills predict motor competence in preschool children BMC Pediatrics Preschool children Executive function skills Motor competence Manual dexterity Aiming and catching skills Balance skills |
| title | Executive function skills predict motor competence in preschool children |
| title_full | Executive function skills predict motor competence in preschool children |
| title_fullStr | Executive function skills predict motor competence in preschool children |
| title_full_unstemmed | Executive function skills predict motor competence in preschool children |
| title_short | Executive function skills predict motor competence in preschool children |
| title_sort | executive function skills predict motor competence in preschool children |
| topic | Preschool children Executive function skills Motor competence Manual dexterity Aiming and catching skills Balance skills |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-025-05582-z |
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