Motor Proficiency in Young Children

This study aimed to examine motor proficiency in young children,focusing on potential gender differences. For that purpose, the Bruininks-Oseretsky Testof Motor Proficiency–Long Form (BOTMP-LF) was administered to 540 children (272 boys),4½ to 6 years old. First, the 2 (sex) × 4 (age groups) ANOVA computed on children’stotal BOTMP-LF scores showed that age had a statistically significant effect, whereasgender did not. Second, the one-way MANCOVA applied on subtest scores, with age ascovariate, revealed statistical significant gender differences; however, η2 values werefound to be small or moderate. Finally, the MANCOVA applied on items where significantgender differences have been reported showed a significant effect of gender.Nonetheless, η2 values exceeded the limit of practical significance only on two items(“standing on preferred leg on floor”, “throwing a ball at a target with preferredhand”) that are associated with gender-stereotyped activities. It can be concluded that(a) besides statistical significance, effect sizes should be examined for the results ofa study to be adequately interpreted; (b) young boys’ and girls’ motor proficiency issimilar rather than different. Gender differences in specific skills should be used formovement programs to be individualized