Este estudo teve como objetivo investigar os efeitos da intervenção aquática em crianças com características de Transtorno do Desenvolvimento da Coordenação (TDC). Mais especificamente, investigar estes efeitos no desempenho motor, nas atividades da vida diária (AVD´s) e nas atividades da vida escolar (AVE´s); e compará-los com os efeitos da intervenção terrestre. A amostra foi composta de 66 crianças estudantes do ensino fundamental (27 meninas e 39 meninos), entre 6 e 10 anos de idade. As crianças com características de TDC (N = 47) constituíram os grupos: controle (TDC-C; N=12), de intervenção aquática (TDC-A; N=19) e de intervenção terrestre (TDC-T; N=16). Foi formado também um grupo controle com crianças de desenvolvimento típico (DT-C; N=19). Os grupos experimentais foram submetidos a intervenções específicas (meio terrestre ou meio aquático) durante 4 meses, com três aulas semanais de 60 minutos de duração, totalizando 50 sessões. Ambas as intervenções abordaram três temas: Habilidades de Estabilização, Habilidades de Locomoção e Habilidades de Manipulação. A variável dependente desempenho motor (escore total do MABC2 e escore Z) foi avaliada em quatro pontos no tempo Pré-teste, Pós, 3m-Pós e 6m-Pós - enquanto as variáveis dependentes AVDs e AVEs em três pontos no tempo Pré-teste, Pós e 6m-Pós. Os resultados referentes ao escore total do MABC2 revelaram diferença entre os grupos TDC-T e TDC-C, favorável ao primeiro, e entre o Pré-teste e os demais tempos, sem distinção de grupo. Mas somente para os grupos experimentais (TDC-A e TDC-T) o tamanho dos efeitos entre os tempos foi de grande magnitude, o que confere significância funcional às intervenções. Por sua vez, a análise do escore Z revelou diferença entre o grupo TDC-C e os grupos TDC-A e TDC-T, seis meses após a finalização das intervenções. Este resultado mostra que somente o desempenho motor dos grupos experimentais se aproximou da referência para crianças de desenvolvimento típico. A análise dos escores totais do Questionário de Pais e do Questionário de Professores mostrou que as intervenções aquática e terrestre favoreceram as AVDs e as AVEs. Os resultados revelaram ainda, que não houve diferença significante entre os grupos experimentais (TDC-A e TDC-T) nas variáveis dependentes deste estudo. Estes resultados permitem concluir que: a) a intervenção aquática favorece o desempenho motor, as AVDs e as AVEs de crianças com características de TDC; e, b) esses efeitos favoráveis da intervenção aquática não diferem daqueles da intervenção terrestre. Em suma, pode-se concluir que a intervenção motora, independentemente do meio ambiente em que ocorre, aquático ou terrestre, é altamente recomendada para as crianças com características de TDC, pois possibilita desempenho semelhante ao de crianças com desenvolvimento típico. A partir destes resultados e conclusões, estudos futuros devem ser desenvolvidos com o objetivo, por exemplo, de investigar os efeitos da intervenção aquática em relação às habilidades especificas a cada uma das subseções do teste MABC2 / This study aimed to investigate the effects of the aquatic intervention in children with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) characteristics. More specifically, to investigate these effects in motor performance, daily life activities (DLAs) and school life activities (SLAs), and compare them with terrestrial intervention effects. The sample consisted of 66 elementary school students (27 girls and 39 boys) aged between 6 and 10 years. Children having DCD characteristics (N = 47) constituted the groups: control (DCD-C; N = 12), aquatic intervention (DCD-A; N = 19) and terrestrial intervention (DCD-T; N = 16). A control group of children with typical development (TD-C; N = 19) was also formed. The experimental groups underwent specific intervention programs (terrestrial or aquatic) for four months, with three weekly classes lasting 60 minutes, totalling 50 sessions. Both programs addressed three themes: Stabilization skills, locomotor skills and manipulative skills. The dependent variable motor performance (MABC2 total score and Z score) was assessed at four points in time - Pre-test, Post, 3m-Post and 6m-Post - while the dependent variables DLAs and SLAs at three points in time - Pre-test, post and 6m-post. The results for the total MABC2 score revealed differences between DCD-T and DCD-C, favorable to the former and between the pre test and the other times, irrespective of group. But only for the experimental groups (DCD-A and DCD-T) the effect size between the times was large, which confers interventions functional significance. In turn, the Z-score analysis revealed difference between DCD-C group in relation to DCD-A and DCD-T groups six months after the completion of interventions. This result shows that only the experimental groups motor performance approached the typically developing children benchmark. The analysis of the Parent Questionnaire and the Teacher Questionnaire total scores showed that aquatic and terrestrial interventions favored DLAs and SLAs. The results also revealed that there was no significant difference between the experimental groups (DCD-A and DCD-T) in these study dependent variables. These results allow coming to the conclusion that: a) the aquatic intervention favors motor performance, the DLAs and the SLAs of the children with DCD characteristics; and, b) these favorable effects of aquatic intervention did not differ from those of terrestrial intervention. In short, it can be concluded that motor intervention, regardless of the environment in which it occurs, aquatic or terrestrial, is highly recommended for children with DCD characteristics, as it allows similar performance to that of children with typical development. From these results and conclusions, future studies should be developed with the aim, for example, to investigate the effects of aquatic intervention in relation to the specific skills of each of the MABC2 test subsections

Syftet med studien är att undersöka hur pedagoger upplever att de stimulerar barns fysiska aktivitet på förskolan med fokus på utemiljön. Metoden som användes i denna studie var kvalitativa interjuver där totalt sex pedagoger intervjuades på fyra olika förskolor. Studiens teoretiska utgångspunkt är Reggio Emilia. Tidigare forskning visar att barns fysiska aktivitet har minskat och stillasittande aktiviteter har ökat och som pedagog är det viktigt att man stimulerar barn till fysisk aktivitet i utomhusmiljön. Resultatet visar att pedagoger är medvetna om den fysiska aktivitetens betydelse men att andra bitar får mer fokus som exempelvis matematik. Pedagogerna förklarar att fysisk aktivitet som begrepp, är rörelser som har med kroppen att göra men fysisk aktivitet är även förknippat med lek och vardagsmotion. Pedagogerna har visioner om att besöka olika närmiljöer för att öka den fysiska aktiviteten men beroende på olika perioder besöker man närmiljön mer eller mindre. Min slutsats är att förskolorna saknar en skogslik miljö i närheten för att göra skogen till en naturlig del av förskolans vardag. Resultatet visar på att man upplever att pedagogerna inte är aktiva i barnens utevistelse och att man önskar att fler pedagoger är aktiva med barnen i utemiljön. / The purpose of the study is to analyze how pedagogues perceive that they stimulate children´s physical activity at the preschool, focusing on the outside environment. The method used in this study was qualitative interviews, where a total of six pedagogues were interviewed at four different preschools. The theoretical point of departure of the study is Reggio Emilia. Previous research shows that children's physical activity has decreased and sedentary activities have increased and as an pedagogue it is important to stimulate children to physical activity in the outdoor environment. The result shows that the pedagogues are aware of the benefits of the physical activity, but that other parts get more focus, such as mathematics. The pedagogues explain that physical activity, as a concept, is movements that involves the body but physical activity is also associated with play and everyday activity. They have visions of visiting different neighborhoods to increase the physical activity, but depending on different periods, the visits are more or less frequent. My conclusion is that preschools lack a forest-like environment near the preschool to make the forest a more natural part of the preschool's everyday life. The result shows that the pedagogues are not active in the children’s outside play and that they want more pedagogues to be active together with the children in the outside environment.

The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between motor skills proficiency and participation in physical activity considering three mediators (ability beliefs, subjective task value, and expectancy of success) among Grade 3 children and considers those relationships in terms of sex-based differences. The participants in this study were recruited from eight elementary schools from School District 61 in Victoria, British Columbia. Participants were 398 children (Girls: n = 201, Boys: n = 197). Motor skills were assessed using the Test of Gross Motor Development-2 (TGMD-2), physical activity participation was measured using the Children’s Assessment of Participation and Enjoyment (CAPE), and ability beliefs, subjective task value, and expectancy of success were measured using the Expectancy Value Questionnaire (EVQ). Descriptive statistics showed that participation in physical activities was low with a mean score of 3.7 on a scale of 14. Percent of maximum (POMP) scores of the psychological variables were in the middle of the range of possible scores; specifically: 68.7%, 74.8%, and 72.7% for children’s ability beliefs, task value, and expectancy of success, respectively. A MANCOVA revealed a main effect of sex (F (7, 389) = 29.684, p < .001; Wilks’ Lambda = 0.652) between boys and girls in terms of their ability beliefs, expectancy of success, subjective task value, motor skills proficiency. A second MANCOVA examining the effect of sex on total raw scores of motor skills and physical activity also revealed a main effect of sex (F (2, 394) = 11.130, p < .001; Wilks’ Lambda = 0.947). Separate parallel multiple mediator models were created for both boys and girls. The mediator model for boys revealed an overall significant effect of .044 (p < .001). The mediator model for girls revealed an overall significant effect of .031 (p < .05). The mediation model for boys showed that the psychological variables in this study did not mediate the relationship between motor skills and physical activity participation. Instead, boys’ motor skills directly predicted their participation in physical activity. The girls’ mediation model showed mediation between motor skills and physical activity with subjective task value as the mediator. Girls’ motor skills did not have a direct relationship with their participation in physical activities. Future research might: (1) include gender as a mediating factor in future mediation models, (2) explore mediation models with locomotor skills and object control skills as independent variables, and (3) explore the role of social and environmental factors such as the influence of parents, teachers, peers, culture, and society on children’s participation in physical activity. / Graduate

Title: The evaluation of gross motor function and coordination in primary school children Defining the issue: The physical activity and sport are highly discussed topics in current time. The physical activity itself has a positive effect on our body in many ways, on the contrary the lack of it has a negative effect. In the younger school age there should be a diversity of physical activity and it should often vary. If, in this period of age, the physical activity would be in the form of specialized sport training with dominant asymetric load without any compensating activity, the effect of that training would be probably negative and even harming for the growing body of young children, who are not prepared for that type of burden. To ensure an adequate development of specific skills and gaits the appropriate level of gross motor function and coordination is required. The evaluation of such movement features after reaching bipedal locometion is mediocre at best and the current test batteries are limited in application. For these reasons the goal was to create new battery of tests and use it to evaluate the gross motor function and coordination in primary school children and assessment of the impact of gender and extracurricular activity on the results. The purpose of the study: The purpose of this...

The graduation thesis is focused on the evaluation in motoric skills of sports gymnasts (n=18) aged between 7 to 10 years. The whole study took place in České Budějovice in the Merkur center with the support of a gymnastic team. For this experiment was used the methody called "MABC-2 formula" (Movement Assessment Battery for Children 2nd edition). The MABC-2 test is a standardized test that verifies a level of the motor function while indicating motor difficulties and difficulty in coordination. It consists of eight test items that are divided into three components. Individual components focus on testing fine motor skills (manual skill), gross motor skills (aiming and catching) and balance. After performing the MABC-2 test and obtaining gross scores for each item, we created tables and graphs of component and total test scores (TTS). We compared the results to the standardization norms this test battery and with other researches in this field that deal with motor testing using the MABC-2 test battery. At the basis of this comparison, we evaluated the level of motor skills in the tested group of gymnasts. This thesis confirmed that gymnasts achieved in all components above-average results. For evaluation of the gymnasts balance skills the MABC-2 wasn´t sensitive enought.

This thesis is occupied with the issues of development of the fine motor skills and graphomotorics of an individual suffering from the central mobility disorder. The main aim of the thesis is to discover and describe what development possibilities of these abilities and skills are. The theoretical part deals with basic terms related to diagnosis of Cerebrovascular accident (CVA) and its rehabilitation options. There are also described the fine motor skills, graphomotorics, grasping process, classification of grasps and their development. There is a separate chapter that is engaged only with development of the fine motor skills and graphomotorics. The thesis also contains evaluation surveys that are applied in practice and that are important for comparison before and after a therapeutic intervention. The practical part is based on qualitative oriented methodology and it operates with data gained from five case studies. Based on comparison of values gained from the entry and control examinations, particular data have been elaborated. It was discovered from the performed research that it had come up to improvement of the fine motor skills as well as graphomotorics by use of various therapeutic methods. Each method had been chosen in accordance with the client's current condition and their individual...

The aim of the thesis is to ascertain the level of motor skills of basketball players of younger school age. The thesis is divided into two parts, theoretical and practical. The theoretical part summarises knowledge obtained from scientific literature, defines fundamental terms related to the issue and clarifies the links between them. The theoretical part includes a definition of the UNIFITTEST 6 - 60 testing method, which appears to be the most suitable form of testing pupils aged 8 to 10 on the basis of scientific literature. The practical part focuses on the actual testing of pupils. The aim of the thesis is to compare the results of pupils obtained in the Prague Sokol Organization who do sports actively also outside of school with those of pupils who only do sports as part of their compulsory education and just have the number of PE lessons the law stipulates for primary education. By comparing the obtained results, it will be possible to determine whether pupils who do sports only at school can reach the results of pupils in the Prague Sokol Organization. On the basis of this finding we may assume which pupils are talented and can be worked with further so as to allow their potential talent to develop.

Barn och vuxna blir allt mindre fysiskt aktiva medborgare vilket i sin tur leder till att hälsan påverkas negativt. Genom att utveckla barn och ungas grovmotoriska förmåga ökas deras fysiska aktivitet vilket i sin tur leder till en bättre hälsa. Forskare visar att idrottslärare har en viktig roll då deras didaktiska kunskaper ger ökad chans till motorisk utveckling hos eleverna och att skolan är en optimal plattform för utvecklingen då många elever endast utövar fysiska aktiviteter i just skolan. Genom mina studier i ämnet idrott och hälsa har jag valt att skriva denna litteraturstudien i just ämnet idrott och hälsa. Litteraturstudien är indelad i tre frågeställningar där den första belyser hur grovmotorik påverkar barn och ungas fysiska förmåga/aktivitet, den andra hur grov motorisk träning/förmåga påverkar elevers skolprestationer och den sista hur den fysiska aktivitetens och motoriska förmågan påverkar elevers självbild. Studien är baserad på elva vetenskapliga artiklar som alla undersökt sambandet mellan grov motorisk förmåga och fysisk aktivitet och dess påverkan på elever på olika sätt. Resultaten visar att en förbättrad grov motorisk förmåga ökar mängden fysisk aktivitet hos barn och unga och att en god grovmotorik kan påverkaelevers skolprestationer positivt. Resultaten visar även att elever med god grovmotorik blir mer socialt accepterade av sina klasskamrater vilket ger en bättre självbild. Det främsta resultatet som framkommit av litteraturstudien är att barn och unga som besitter en god motorisk förmåga kommer tenderar att bli mer fysiskt aktiva än ett barn med sämre motorisk förmåga, barnet kommer även ha en större chans att få ett mer fysiskt aktivt liv.

Des troubles moteurs ont été décrits dans les Troubles du Spectre Autistiques (TSA), toutefois tous les enfants atteints de TSA ne montrent pas de diminution des performances motrices. La nature et l'origine des perturbations motrices dans les TSA ne sont pas claires. Les processus neuro-développementaux, en lien avec la maturation du système nerveux central, sont peu explorés dans les TSA, or ces processus sous-tendent les performances motrices. Peu d'études portent sur l'analyse fine de la sémiologie des fonctions neuro-psychomotrices dans les TSA et l'existence d'une trajectoire neuro-développementale de ces fonctions n'est pas connue chez les enfants avec TSA. L'objectif de cette étude est de mettre en évidence la sémiologie des troubles psychomoteurs auprès d'enfants avec TSA, à l'aide d'une batterie standardisée Française d'évaluation développementale des fonctions neuro-psychomotrices de l'enfant (NP-MOT) (Vaivre-Douret, 2006). L'évaluation neuro-psychomotrice complète les évaluations de premières instances (psychiatrique; psychologique; compréhension; psychomotrice). L'identification d'un profil clinique neuro-psychomoteur, l'identification de troubles ou décalages par rapport à une norme de référence, la mise en évidence de fonctions cérébrales éventuellement touchées dans les TSA devraient permettre de mieux comprendre l'origine et la nature des troubles observés dans les TSA. Les résultats de plus en plus nombreux concernant la motricité chez ces enfants doivent pouvoir également être analysés au regard des évaluations cognitives et neuro-cognitives, afin d'affiner le profil de développement et permettre ainsi de mieux comprendre la nature des troubles autistiques parmi une comorbidité d'éventuels autres dysfonctionnements. / Motor disorders have been described in the Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD), however all children with ASD show no decrease in motor performances. The nature and origin of motor disturbances in ASD are unclear. Neurodevelopmental processes linked to the maturation of the central nervous system, are not really explored in ASD, but these processes underlie motor performances. Few studies trat of an acute semiology of motor abnormalities in ASD and the existence of a neuro-developmental trajectory of neuro-psychomotor functions is not known in children with ASD. The aim of this study is to highlight the semiology of psychomotor disorders among children with ASD, using a French standardized neurodevelopmental assessment tool (NP-MOT) (Vaivre-Douret, 2006). Evaluations of the first instances (psychiatric; psychological; understanding; psychomotor) were supplemented by a standardized assessment battery of neuro-developmental psychomotor functions (NP-MOT). The identification of a neuro-psychomotor clinical profile, identification of problems or discrepancies compared to a standard reference, the identification of potentially affected brain functions in ASD should provide a better understanding of the origin and nature the observed disorders in ASD. The results, more and more numerous concerning motor skills in these children, should be able to be analyzed in light of cognitive or neuro-cognitive assessments and should allow to refine the profile of development and thereby enable a better understanding of the nature of autism among a comorbidity other possible malfunctions.

O objetivo desta pesquisa, de delineamento quase-experimental, foi verificar a influência de um Programa de Iniciação ao Tênis (PIT) com duas abordagens, Clássica (AC) e de Contexto Motivacional para a Maestria (AM), no desempenho de habilidades motoras fundamentais (HMF), especializadas do Tênis (HMET) especializadas do Tênis no jogo (HETJ) e na percepção de competência (PC) de crianças em situação de risco. A amostra desta pesquisa foi não probabilística, intencional, composta por 61 crianças (29 meninas e 32 meninos), com idades de 6 a 12 anos (M = 9,4), sendo 30 crianças da AC e 31 crianças da AM. Para as avaliações das crianças foram utilizados o Test of Gross Motor Development-2 (TGMD-2) (ULRICH, 2000); o Instrumento de Avaliação das Habilidades Motoras Especializadas do Tênis, o Instrumento de Avaliação de Habilidades Especializadas do Tênis no Jogo e a escala The Self-Perception Profile for Children (HARTER, 1985). O PIT foi desenvolvido em 26 semanas, implementando, para a AM os pressupostos da estrutura TARGET e do Sport Education Model e para a AC os modelos clássicos de aprendizagem do Tênis. General Linear Model com medidas repetidas no fator tempo foi conduzido para avaliar os efeitos do PIT no desempenho motor e nos níveis de PC, bem como, a influência de faixa etária e gênero. Teste de Wilcoxon foi utilizado para a comparação intra-grupo e teste de Mann-Whitney para a comparação inter-grupo (no jogo quanto à categorização). Análise de variância com medidas repetidas no fator tempo, delta e significância do delta por meio de One Way ANOVA foram utilizadas para avaliar o impacto da intervenção. Os resultados indicaram que 1) crianças do PIT demonstraram mudanças significantes (p < 0,01) nas habilidades de locomoção (HL), sendo que as crianças da AM revelaram escores significativamente (p = 0,034) superiores quando comparadas com a AC ao final da intervenção; 2) todas as crianças evidenciaram mudanças significantes nas habilidades de controle de objeto (HCO) da pré para a pósintervenção (p < 0,01); 3) não houve interação da faixa etária nas HL (p = 0,885) e nas HCO (p = 0,940) e do gênero nas HL (p = 0,791) e nas HCO (p = 0,723); 4) mudanças positivas e significantes (p < 0,01) nas HMET para todas as crianças; 5) interação não significante da faixa etária (p = 0,519) e do gênero (p = 0,24) nas HMET; 6) interação não significante da faixa etária (p = 0,523) e do gênero (p = 0,117) nas HETJ quanto à freqüência; 7) quanto à categorização das HETJ, resultados evidenciaram mudanças positivas para as crianças do PIT ao longo da intervenção, representando 62,5% das atitudes demonstradas no jogo; 8) crianças mais velhas da AC apresentaram mudanças significantes (p < 0,05) da pré para a pós-intervenção em duas categorias de comportamento, enquanto que, crianças mais velhas da AM em cinco (p < 0,05); 9) quanto ao gênero, não houve interação significante (p = 0,50) nas HETJ na categorização das atitudes; 10) quanto à PC, todas as crianças apresentaram mudanças significantes da pré para a pósintervenção (p < 0,01);11) não houve interação significante para a faixa etária (p = 0,096) e gênero (0,465) nas percepções de competência. A implementação de um Programa de Iniciação ao Tênis, baseado em propostas metodológicas eficazes e condizentes com as necessidades reais dos participantes, promove ganhos motores, sociais e emocionais que efetivam a participação das crianças no esporte e na atividade física e contribuem com o seu desenvolvimento. / The purpose of the present study, with a quasi-experimental design, was to verify the influence of a Beginning Tennis Program (BTP) with two approaches – the Classical approach (CA) and the Mastery Motivational Climate approach (MA) – on the development of fundamental motor skills (FMS), specialized tennis motor skills (STMS), specialized tennis motor skills in play (STMSP), and on perceived competence (PC) of children in risky situation. The sample was not probabilistic, intentional, and composed of 61 children (29 girls and 32 boys), aged 6-12 yr. (M = 9.4). Thirty children were submitted to the CA and 31 to the MA. The children were assessed using the Test of Gross Motor Development-2 (TGMD-2) (ULRICH, 2000), the Instrument for Assessing Specialized Tennis Motor Skills, the Instrument for Assessing Specialized Tennis Motor Skills in Play, and The Self-Perception Profile for Children (HARTER, 1985). The BTP was carried out in 26 weeks and implemented for MA the assumptions of the TARGET structure and the Sport Education Model, and for CA the classical models for tennis learning. General Linear Model with repeated measures on the time factor was conducted to assess the BTP effects on motor development and on PC levels, as well as the influence of age group and gender. 7) concerning STMSP categorization, children in BTP demonstrated positive changes over the intervention, representing 62.5% of the attitudes adopted in the play; 8) older children of CA showed significant changes (p < 0.05) from pre- to post-intervention in two behavior categories, whereas older children of MA showed significant changes in five (p < 0.05); 9) concerning gender, there was no significant interaction (p = 0.50) in STMSP in attitude categorization; 10) all children showed significant changes in PC from pre- to post-intervention (p < 0.01); 11) there was no significant interaction of age group (p = 0.096) and gender (0.465) in PC. The implementation of a Beginning Tennis Program based on effective methodological proposals that are suitable for the participants’ real needs fosters motor, social, and emotional gains that reinforce the children engagement in sports and physical activity, and favour their development.