Relationship Between Gross Motor Development And Physical Activity In Preschool Children

Objective: The level of physical activity is closely related to the health of preschool children,but there is a widespread phenomenon of insufficient physical activity among preschool children in various countries.Some studies have shown that gross motor is an important potential factor in promoting physical activity.Due to racial and regional cultural differences,foreign research results cannot fully reflect the actual situation in China.Currently,the relevant research on preschool children in China is still in the preliminary exploration stage,with most of the review type research.In view of this,this study aims to objectively measure the current level of gross motor and physical activity among preschool children in China,explore the predictive role of gross motor development in physical activity among preschool children,and attempt to use relevant theories to analyze and discuss the results from different perspectives,providing reference for the formulation of physical activity intervention measures for preschool children.Methods: In this study,a convenient sampling method was used to select 280 preschool children with physical and mental health and normal development from three kindergartens in Jinhua City as the survey subjects.The Test of Gross Motor Development Third Edition(TGMD-3)was used to measure the development of gross motor development,and a three-axis accelerometer(Acti Graph GT3X+)was used to continuously collect physical activity information of preschool children during the five school days in the kindergarten.Descriptive statistical analysis was used to describe the average value and standard deviation of variables,and correlation and regression analysis were used to analyze the relationship between the development level of gross motors and physical activity in preschool children.Result:(1)Preschool children’s mastery of locomotor skills is superior to their mastery of object control skills;Boys scored significantly higher in object control skills than girls;The higher the grade,the higher the score of gross motors and various sub skills.(2)The average daily sedentary(SB)time of boys is shorter than that of girls,and the time of participating in moderate to high intensity physical activity(MVPA)is longer;The average daily SB time of small class children is the longest,and the time of participating in MVPA is the shortest.There is no significant difference in the time of participating in various intensity physical activities between middle class and large class children.(3)The total gross motor scores of boys and girls were positively correlated with the average daily participation time in moderate physical activity(MPA),high intensity physical activity(VPA),and MVPA.In addition,there was a significant negative correlation between the total gross motor scores of girls and the average daily SB time;Both boys’ and girls’ scores of locomotor skills and object control skills were positively correlated with the average daily time spent participating in VPA and MVPA,while girls’ scores of locomotor skills were positively correlated with the average daily time spent participating in Light Physical Activity(LPA)and MPA,and object control skills were positively correlated with the average daily time spent participating in MPA;There was a positive correlation between the scores of locomotor skills and gross motor movements of children in large classes and the average daily time spent participating in VPA and MVPA,while there was a negative correlation between the scores of locomotor skills and the average daily time spent in SB.(4)Regression analysis showed that both boys’ and girls’ gross motor scores could predict the time of daily MPA,VPA,and MVPA.In addition,girls’ gross motor scores could negatively predict the time of daily SB,while boys’ and girls’ locomotor skills scores could positively predict the time of daily VPA.Girls’ locomotor skills scores could also negatively predict the time of daily SB,and positively predict the time of daily MVPA;The locomotor skills and gross motor skills of the senior class can positively predict the daily time of VPA and MVPA.Conclusion: The development of gross motor in preschool children has a predictive effect on physical activity,and it may be an effective way to promote physical activity in preschool children to pay attention to and develop the locomotor skills,especially in girls and older children.