Predictors and Trends of Gross Motor Skill Performance in At-Risk Elementary School-Aged Children

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the predictors and trends of gross motor skills in children from low-income families. The participants were 1,460 children ( M age = 8.39 yr., SD = 1.83; K–6th grade) recruited from three Title I schools. The Test of Gross Motor Development–2nd Edition (TGMD–2) assessed motor skills, FITNESSGRAM assessed health-related fitness, and pedometers and accelerometers measured moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). Multilevel modeling revealed that TGMD–2 scores predicted aerobic capacity, but no other relationships were found with other Healthy Fitness Zone parameters or MVPA. TGMD–2 performance was 4.8 and 4.7% greater in successively higher grade levels for girls and boys, respectively. In conclusion, TGMD–2 scores predict aerobic capacity and TGMD–2 scores improved between 4 and 5% in older grade cohorts separated by 1 year.