The Effect of a Structured Intervention to Improve Motor Skills in Preschool Children: Results of a Randomized Controlled Trial Nested in a Cohort Study of Danish Preschool Children, the MiPS Study

Lise Hestbaek, Werner Vach, Sarah Thurøe Andersen and Henrik Hein Lauridsen
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Lise Hestbaek: Chiropractic Knowledge Hub, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, 5230 Odense, Denmark
Werner Vach: Basel Academy for Quality and Research in Medicine, Steinenring 6, CH-4051 Basel, Switzerland
Sarah Thurøe Andersen: Department of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, 5230 Odense, Denmark
Henrik Hein Lauridsen: Department of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, 5230 Odense, Denmark

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 23, 1-18

Abstract: The preschool age seems to be decisive for the development of motor skills and probably the most promising time-window in relation to improvement of motor skills. This trial investigates the effect of an intensive structured intervention to improve motor skills in 3–6-year-old preschool children. A total of 471 Danish preschool children participated in a cluster randomized controlled trial. The intervention was to enhance motor skills, including predefined minimum criteria. Motor skills were measured using the Motor Assessment Battery for Children-2 (MABC-2) (total and three domains) at baseline and 6-, 18-, and 30-months post-intervention. The effect was estimated by multilevel linear regression with preschool and child included as random effects and adjusted for baseline values. Effect estimates were mainly positive at 6 months, but negative at 30 months with very few statistically significant estimates. In preschools with baseline motor skills scores below average, there was a tendency towards a larger improvement in the intervention group. Future interventions and research should focus on clusters with poor motor skills, as there is larger room for improvement. It remains to be seen whether the intervention can influence general well-being, physical activity, and self-perceived competence, both short- and long-term.

Keywords: children; motor skills; preschool; kindergarten; randomized controlled trial (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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