ExRx Chapter 32- Children Functional Motor Skill Delays in Early Childhood with Implications for ExRx

A child’s actual ability to perform a movement skill 

motor competence

• Basic movement patterns that form the building blocks for more complex physical activity:

1. Locomotor (run, jump, hop) 

2. Object control (throw, catch, kick) 

3. Stability (balance, twisting)

fundamental movement skills

what are the fundamental movement skills?

locomotor, object control, stability

• 25–40% of children demonstrate below-average gross motor competence.

• National survey data indicates that about 5–7% of children aged 3–7 years have diagnosed _________ ______, with higher prevalence among boys than girls.

• These prevalence rates suggest that exercise professionals working with children will frequently encounter developmental variability.

developmental delays

• Developmental surveillance refers to healthcare providers monitoring children’s developmental progress and parental concerns during routine visits

  • Rates range from 19%-61% across states

  • This connects to the bigger issue: Early developmental monitoring is inconsistent across the U.S. 

• Early identification is particularly important because developmental risk factors, including motor delays, may be associated with later _______and ________challenges.

behavioral and psychosocial

• Motor skill development, stages of development

• sensitive period for FMS acquisition

• Many sociial interactions at this age occur in the context of physical play

• Delays observed at school entry tend to persist, often manifesting into task avoidance and limited participation in peer based play

• If children lack fundamental motor skills, they may struggle to participate in traditional exercise activities as they age
  

stages of development early childhood

• When we prescribe exercise for adults, we focus on fitness, disease risk, and physical capacity…

  • For children, we shift towards to __________ _______

• Understanding the prevalence of motor delays, with its cooccurrence in behavioral functioning, is critical for exercise prescription…

  • These factors directly influence children's ability to participate in and benefit from physical activity

  • Developmental variability!

• Understanding the prevalence of motor delays, with its

developmental readiness

• Developmental concerns

• Behavioral challenges

• Motor delays 

• Obesity 

• Chronic conditions 

in clinical exercise settings professionals often work with children who have

• Reflexive Movement → Birth to 1 year 

• Rudimentary Movement:

  • First 2 years

  • Reaching, grasping, releasing

  • Sitting, standing, walking 

• Fundamental Movement Phase→ 2-7 years old

  • Improved gross and fine motor skills 

  • Running, jumping, throwing, catching 

• Key Functional Movements (Starting at 3 years of age)

  • Climbing

  • Running on toes

  • Balancing on one leg for a short time 

  • Kicking ball from standing position 

• Specialized Movement Phase

  • 7 years into adolescence 

  • Continued refining and developing of skills

developmental progression phase

• Birth to 1 year

• developmental progression phase

reflexive movement

• First 2 years

• Reaching, grasping, releasing

• Sitting, standing, walking 

• Developmental progression phase

rudimentary movement

• 2-7 years old

• Improved gross and fine motor skills 

• Running, jumping, throwing, catching

• Developmental progression phase  

fundamental movement phase

•  (Starting at 3 years of age)

  • Climbing

  • Running on toes

  • Balancing on one leg for a short time 

  • Kicking ball from standing position 

key functional movements

• 7 years into adolescence 

• Continued refining and developing of skills

• developmental progression phase

specialized movement phase

• Children should be active at least ___ hours throughout the day 

  • Structured, free play, and variety of opportunities 

3

• Should not be used just for exercise prescription 

  • Testing is not indicated unless there is a health concern 

• Exercise protocol would be based on reason for the test 

• Always familiarize children with protocol 

• Treadmill and cycle ergometer should be available 

• Developmental variability(!) 

• DV: diff in development, children are psychologically and emotionally immature, require more motivation and support

recommendations for exercise training

diff in development, children are psychologically and emotionally immature, require more motivation and support

developmental variability

• _______→ 76% preference by clinical centers 

• _______. _________

• _______ ergometer  population specific 

treadmill, cycle and arm ergometer