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Associations between motor proficiency and academic performance in mathematics and reading in year 1 school children: a cross-sectional study.

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND:A key priority for learning during the early years of school is for children to develop skills in numeracy and literacy. Consequently, less time may be allocated in the curriculum to foster other important developmental areas, including the ongoing motor skill development of school children, which has been positively linked to academic performance. In order to promote holistic approaches to teaching and learning in the early years of school, it is necessary to further delineate the nature of associations between motor skills and foundation academic skills. The aim of this study was to examine associations between fine and gross motor proficiency and academic performance in mathematics and reading in Year 1 children. METHODS:A cross-sectional study was conducted with Year 1 children from two primary schools in New South Wales, Australia (N?=?55; 25 boys, 30 girls; mean age 6.77?±?0.40?years). The Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency (2nd Edition) and the Wechsler Individual Achievement Test II (Australian Edition) were used to assess motor proficiency and academic performance in mathematics and reading, respectively. Associations between the components of motor proficiency and academic outcomes were examined using Pearson's and Spearman's correlation analyses. Hierarchical multiple linear regression analyses were conducted to determine how much variance in mathematics and reading composite scores could be explained by motor proficiency after controlling for age. RESULTS:A significant moderate positive association was found between total motor composite and mathematics composite scores (r?=?.466, p?

SUBMITTER: Macdonald K

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7020512 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Associations between motor proficiency and academic performance in mathematics and reading in year 1 school children: a cross-sectional study.

Macdonald Kirstin K Milne Nikki N Orr Robin R Pope Rodney R

BMC pediatrics 20200214 1

<h4>Background</h4>A key priority for learning during the early years of school is for children to develop skills in numeracy and literacy. Consequently, less time may be allocated in the curriculum to foster other important developmental areas, including the ongoing motor skill development of school children, which has been positively linked to academic performance. In order to promote holistic approaches to teaching and learning in the early years of school, it is necessary to further delineat ...[more]

PMID: 32059651

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Dataset Information

Associations between motor proficiency and academic performance in mathematics and reading in year 1 school children: a cross-sectional study.

Publications

Associations between motor proficiency and academic performance in mathematics and reading in year 1 school children: a cross-sectional study.

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