Research for the level of motor skills of 3-5 years old kindergartners

In this study we have intended to research the basic motor skills of kindergartners aged between 3 and 5 according to their age, sex and body mass index. We have taken samples from total 1511 students including 12 kindergartens in Kütahya and 10 kindergartens in other provinces in autumn 2013 term. We used TGMD-II Test which is available for measuring basic motor skills as measuring method. We have measured heights and weights of the children for body mass index. 3 years of age 301 children (147 girls, 154 boys), 4 years of age 546 children ( 254 girls, 292 boys) and 5 years of age 664 children (307 girls, 357 boys) have been participated to this study. According to the body mass index of these children the classification is like; 122 children are weak, 1006 children are normal, 160 children are overweight and 223 children are obese. As a statistical method a homogeneity test has been applied to the development measurements of basic motor skills according to their age, sex and body mass index. After the homogeneity test a bidirectional variant test has been applied at α= 0.05 value for determining whether there is a difference between basic motor skill development levels according to the age, sex and body mass index of the children. Tukey's (HSD) test has been applied as a second test for determining the difference in different age of children who have various body mass indexes. The test results showed us that the difference between TGMD-II locomotor total scores (p<0.05), TGMD-II object control total scores (p<0.05) and TGMD-II total scores (p<0.05) for children aged between 3 and 5 is significant. According to the sex the difference between TGMD-II locomotor total scores (p>0.05), TGMD-II object control total scores (p<0.05) and TGMD-II total scores (p>0.05) is significant only for TGMD-II object control total scores. According to the body mass index the difference between TGMD-II locomotor total scores (p<0.05), TGMD-II object control total scores (p<0.05) and TGMD-II total scores (p<0.05) is significant. The result of this study shows us there are differences for basic motor skill development according to age and body mass index. When the children grow we can see in increase for motor skills, too. It has been found that the basic motor skills is better for weak and normal children according to over weighed and obese children according to body mass index. The reason of that may be the lack of sufficient movement of over weighed or obese children according to weak or normal children.