Several motor problems in ADHD learners are reported, including problems with balance, fine muscle control (Szatmari & Taylor; 1984; Havey & Reid, 2003) and motor planning (Piek et al., 1999; Pless & Corisson, 2000). It seems that overlapping conditions such as DAMP (which is a combination of ADHD and Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD)) display greater connections with motor problems, than when a child displays only ADHD symptoms (Gillberg, 2003; Gibbs et al., 2007). There is also continuing controversy in the research literature as to whether ADHD is in fact remediable and what the most appropriate methods in this regard would be. Behavioural therapy at school and various forms of psychotherapy are reported to be the most popular forms of interventions complementary to medication. It also appears that motor exercise can stimulate the brain in various ways, resulting in improvement in learning and attention (Summerford, 2005). Motor therapy appears to be important, since many ADHD learners display motor difficulties. Motor control problems of learners with ADHD are also neglected during research. The objectives of this study were firstly to determine the nature and extent of coordination related neuro-motor and visual-motor integration deficits of an availability sample of six- to eight-year-old (N=95) learners diagnosed with ADHD in Brakpan, South Africa. A further objective was to determine whether treatment methods, including neuro-motor therapy, pharmacological agents and neuro biofeedback can indeed address neuro-motor problems and ADHD symptoms successfully. A further objective was to determine which of the various treatment programs, including neuro-motor therapy, pharmacological agents and brain conditioning intervention, will be the most effective for the treatment of six- to eight-year-old ADHD learners. The "Disruptive Behaviour Scale" checklist for ADHD (Bester, 2006) was used to identify learners with ADHD. The "Movement Assessment Battery for Learners 2" (MABC), and the “Quick Neurological Screening Test II" (QNST-II) were used to determine the learners’ motor skills, as well as neuro-motor progress. The "Beery Developmental Test of Visual-Motor Integration" (VMI-IV) was used to examine the learners' visual-motor integration (VMI), visual perception (VP) and motor coordination (MC). "Statistica for Windows 2012" was used for the analysis of the results. One-way Analysis of Variance, independent t-testing and co-variance analysis were used respectively to analyze data related to the abovementioned objectives. A p-value less than or equal to 0.05 was accepted as statistically significant, and effect sizes were calculated to determine the practical significance of the results (d≤0.8). The results of the study showed that the neuro-motor status of the selected six- to eight-year-old ADHD learners (N=95) that had been identified, using the Bester questionnaire, and analyzed by means of the MABC, QNST and VMI, was affected negatively by the condition. Fine motor and hand control skills of learners with ADHD were indeed found to be significantly weaker compared to learners without ADHD, and the fine motor skills of learners with DAMP showed impairment to a greater degree. Neurological and visual-motor integration do not appear to differ between learners with and without ADHD symptoms, although trends of weaker values and significant differences were found in the palm shape recognition, arm-leg extension (muscle tone) subscale and the stimulation of hand and cheek subscale in the ADHD and DAMP groups. For objective 2, the learners were divided into two groups (an ADHD intervention group (n=10) that was subjected to an neuro-motor intervention program of nine weeks, 37 minutes per session, twice a week, and compared to a non-control group consisting of non-ADHD learners (n=18)). When the pre-test differences between the groups are taken into account, it indicated that the ADHD group performed weaker than the control group in the QNST and MABC total, MABC percentile, ball skills and palm shape recognition subtest values, before starting the intervention, but that during the after-test no more differences were observed between the groups. This suggests that the intervention group showed improvement and that their average values draw closer to those of the control group, confirming that the intervention did exert an influence on the deficits that these ADHD learners experienced. The neuro-motor dysfunction of the group of learners with ADHD did not show a significant improvement, although non- significant trends of improvement that occurred in all variables may indeed be attributed to the effect of the intervention. A reduction in the ADHD symptoms and improved visual-motor integration in learners with ADHD were observed, suggesting that the severity of the symptoms of ADHD displayed by this group before the start of the intervention was significantly reduced. For objective 3, the learners (n=95) were divided into five groups (Sharper Brain group (n=25); neuro-motor intervention group (n=21); medication group (n=17); a group with no symptoms of ADHD (n=18), and an ADHD control group (n=14)). The Sharper Brain group showed practical significant lower values than the ADHD control group and the medication group in most of the MABC variables, from which can be deduced that neuro-biofeedback therapy will not improve motor problems. The results obtained in the visual-motor integration subtest showed that the neuro-motor intervention group performed significantly better than the ADHD control group, although the groups did not differ significantly. ADHD symptoms decreased significantly in all groups, most of all in the Sharper Brain group, from which can be deduced that the intervention has possibilities to improve focus and attention. A trend also occurred (p>0.05) that the neuro-motor intervention contributed more to improving visual-motor integration than the other intervention groups, while the medication intervention meaningfully addressed visual perception skills. However, from the results could not be determined whether one group performed better than another group, as no significant differences occurred consistently between groups. The neuro-biofeedback therapy, medication and neuro-motor intervention each had a achieved a unique improvement, and it is recommended that a combination of the various intervention methods should be used in the treatment of ADHD. In summary, the conclusion can be drawn that ADHD learners experience problems with skills related to attention, visual-motor integration and fine motor skills to a greater extent than non-ADHD learners, and that learners diagnosed with DAMP display more serious problems in this regard. The results showed that the various interventions have various treatment effects, but did not have a significant effect on the motor status of the ADHD learners. The conclusion may be drawn that there is no one single method of treatment for learners with ADHD symptoms, but that a combination of treatment methods should rather be implemented. From the study it is clear that ADHD does indeed affect learners negatively, but also that the exposure to focused intervention programs has a positive effect on their neuro-motor skills and ADHD symptoms. / PhD (Human Movement Science), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

Several motor problems in ADHD learners are reported, including problems with balance, fine muscle control (Szatmari & Taylor; 1984; Havey & Reid, 2003) and motor planning (Piek et al., 1999; Pless & Corisson, 2000). It seems that overlapping conditions such as DAMP (which is a combination of ADHD and Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD)) display greater connections with motor problems, than when a child displays only ADHD symptoms (Gillberg, 2003; Gibbs et al., 2007). There is also continuing controversy in the research literature as to whether ADHD is in fact remediable and what the most appropriate methods in this regard would be. Behavioural therapy at school and various forms of psychotherapy are reported to be the most popular forms of interventions complementary to medication. It also appears that motor exercise can stimulate the brain in various ways, resulting in improvement in learning and attention (Summerford, 2005). Motor therapy appears to be important, since many ADHD learners display motor difficulties. Motor control problems of learners with ADHD are also neglected during research. The objectives of this study were firstly to determine the nature and extent of coordination related neuro-motor and visual-motor integration deficits of an availability sample of six- to eight-year-old (N=95) learners diagnosed with ADHD in Brakpan, South Africa. A further objective was to determine whether treatment methods, including neuro-motor therapy, pharmacological agents and neuro biofeedback can indeed address neuro-motor problems and ADHD symptoms successfully. A further objective was to determine which of the various treatment programs, including neuro-motor therapy, pharmacological agents and brain conditioning intervention, will be the most effective for the treatment of six- to eight-year-old ADHD learners. The "Disruptive Behaviour Scale" checklist for ADHD (Bester, 2006) was used to identify learners with ADHD. The "Movement Assessment Battery for Learners 2" (MABC), and the “Quick Neurological Screening Test II" (QNST-II) were used to determine the learners’ motor skills, as well as neuro-motor progress. The "Beery Developmental Test of Visual-Motor Integration" (VMI-IV) was used to examine the learners' visual-motor integration (VMI), visual perception (VP) and motor coordination (MC). "Statistica for Windows 2012" was used for the analysis of the results. One-way Analysis of Variance, independent t-testing and co-variance analysis were used respectively to analyze data related to the abovementioned objectives. A p-value less than or equal to 0.05 was accepted as statistically significant, and effect sizes were calculated to determine the practical significance of the results (d≤0.8). The results of the study showed that the neuro-motor status of the selected six- to eight-year-old ADHD learners (N=95) that had been identified, using the Bester questionnaire, and analyzed by means of the MABC, QNST and VMI, was affected negatively by the condition. Fine motor and hand control skills of learners with ADHD were indeed found to be significantly weaker compared to learners without ADHD, and the fine motor skills of learners with DAMP showed impairment to a greater degree. Neurological and visual-motor integration do not appear to differ between learners with and without ADHD symptoms, although trends of weaker values and significant differences were found in the palm shape recognition, arm-leg extension (muscle tone) subscale and the stimulation of hand and cheek subscale in the ADHD and DAMP groups. For objective 2, the learners were divided into two groups (an ADHD intervention group (n=10) that was subjected to an neuro-motor intervention program of nine weeks, 37 minutes per session, twice a week, and compared to a non-control group consisting of non-ADHD learners (n=18)). When the pre-test differences between the groups are taken into account, it indicated that the ADHD group performed weaker than the control group in the QNST and MABC total, MABC percentile, ball skills and palm shape recognition subtest values, before starting the intervention, but that during the after-test no more differences were observed between the groups. This suggests that the intervention group showed improvement and that their average values draw closer to those of the control group, confirming that the intervention did exert an influence on the deficits that these ADHD learners experienced. The neuro-motor dysfunction of the group of learners with ADHD did not show a significant improvement, although non- significant trends of improvement that occurred in all variables may indeed be attributed to the effect of the intervention. A reduction in the ADHD symptoms and improved visual-motor integration in learners with ADHD were observed, suggesting that the severity of the symptoms of ADHD displayed by this group before the start of the intervention was significantly reduced. For objective 3, the learners (n=95) were divided into five groups (Sharper Brain group (n=25); neuro-motor intervention group (n=21); medication group (n=17); a group with no symptoms of ADHD (n=18), and an ADHD control group (n=14)). The Sharper Brain group showed practical significant lower values than the ADHD control group and the medication group in most of the MABC variables, from which can be deduced that neuro-biofeedback therapy will not improve motor problems. The results obtained in the visual-motor integration subtest showed that the neuro-motor intervention group performed significantly better than the ADHD control group, although the groups did not differ significantly. ADHD symptoms decreased significantly in all groups, most of all in the Sharper Brain group, from which can be deduced that the intervention has possibilities to improve focus and attention. A trend also occurred (p>0.05) that the neuro-motor intervention contributed more to improving visual-motor integration than the other intervention groups, while the medication intervention meaningfully addressed visual perception skills. However, from the results could not be determined whether one group performed better than another group, as no significant differences occurred consistently between groups. The neuro-biofeedback therapy, medication and neuro-motor intervention each had a achieved a unique improvement, and it is recommended that a combination of the various intervention methods should be used in the treatment of ADHD. In summary, the conclusion can be drawn that ADHD learners experience problems with skills related to attention, visual-motor integration and fine motor skills to a greater extent than non-ADHD learners, and that learners diagnosed with DAMP display more serious problems in this regard. The results showed that the various interventions have various treatment effects, but did not have a significant effect on the motor status of the ADHD learners. The conclusion may be drawn that there is no one single method of treatment for learners with ADHD symptoms, but that a combination of treatment methods should rather be implemented. From the study it is clear that ADHD does indeed affect learners negatively, but also that the exposure to focused intervention programs has a positive effect on their neuro-motor skills and ADHD symptoms. / PhD (Human Movement Science), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

Die ontwikkeling van perseptueel-motoriese vaardighede is noodsaaklik om skoolsukses in graad 1 te verseker. Sodanige perseptueel-motoriese vaardighede word beïnvloed deur faktore soos die onderwyser se houding, en kennis en die gebruik van leer- en onderrigsteunmateriaal (LOSM). Om skoolsukses in graad 1 te verseker moet die leerder skoolgereed en skoolryp wees. Skoolgereedheid en skoolrypheid word beïnvloed deur eksterne faktore, soos die sosio-ekonomiese omstandighede, samelewing, gemeenskap, kultuur, die skool, die onderwyser, beskikbaarheid van leer- en onderrigsteunmateriaal, ouers en gesinstrukture. Daar is met die proefskrif gepoog om eerstens die effek van ʼn leerondersteuningintervensie op perseptueel-motoriese vaardighede van graad R-leerders in gedepriveerde omgewings te bepaal. Tweedens is daar bepaal of die leemtes in graad R-onderwysers se kennis van perseptueel-motoriese vaardighede die skoolgereedheid van graad R-leerders kan beïnvloed. Die derde doelstelling was om die verband tussen sekere biografiese veranderlikes en die graad R-onderwyseres se houding teenoor die ontwikkeling van perseptueel-motoriese vaardighede van graad R-leerders te bepaal. Die vierde doelstelling het die impak van die gebruik van toepaslike LOSM op die ontwikkeling van graad R-leerders se perseptueel-motoriese vaardighede, met die fokus op klein- en grootmotoriese vaardighede bepaal. Om doelstelling 1 te ontleed het die proefskrif eerstens gepoog om die effek van ʼn leerondersteuningintervensie op skoolgereedheid gebaseer op perseptueel-motoriese vaardighede van graad R-leerders in gedepriveerde omgewings te bepaal. ʼn Leerderondersteuningintervensie wat gefokus het op die ontwikkeling van perseptueel-motoriese vaardighede van graad R-leerders vanuit lae sosio-ekonomiese samelewings is saamgestel. ʼn Kwantitatiewe navorsingsmetode is gevolg met ʼn drie-groep-voortoets-natoets-ontwerp. Die populasie vir hierdie doelstelling het bestaan uit drie graad R-skole wat deur middel van ʼn gerieflikheidsteekproef gekies is. Twee kwintiel 1-skole, ʼn kontroleskool (n = 30) en ʼn eksperimentele skool (n = 25), asook een kwintiel 3-skool (n = 22) is gekies. ʼn Leerderondersteuningintervensie wat gefokus het op die ontwikkeling van perseptueel-motoriese vaardighede is oor ʼn tydperk van nege maande by die eksperimentele skool (skool E) geïmplementeer deurdat hulp aan die onderwysers verleen is en die leeromgewing van die leerders opgegradeer is. Die leerders is voor- en na die intervensie deur middel van ʼn skoolgereedheidstoets geevalueer. Die resultate is deur middel van ʼn variansie-analise (ANOVA), kovariansie-analise (ANCOVA) en afhanklike t-toetse geanaliseer om die verskille tussen en binne groepe te bepaal. ʼn Beduidende verband tussen skoolgereedheid en perseptueel-motoriese ontwikkeling is gevind waar faktore soos die omgewing, minimum leer- en onderrigsteunmateriaal en beperkte kennis van die onderwyser ʼn rol gespeel het. Vanaf die voortoets tot die natoets was die persentasie skoolgereedheid onderskeidelik soos volg kontroleskool 1 (32% - 56%), kontroleskool 2 (58% - 70%), eksperimentele skool (34% - 66%). ʼn Groter verbetering in die skoolgereedheid kan by die eksperimentele skool waargeneem word. Die resultate het aangedui dat ʼn perseptueel-motoriese intervensie leerders in lae sosio-ekonomiese omgewings kan help om faktore soos ʼn gebrek aan LOSM, leemtes in onderwysers se kennis en houdings wat skoolgereedheid moontlik kan beïnvloed, te oorkom. Doelstelling 2 het die verband tussen leemtes in graad R-onderwysers (n = 25) se kennis van perseptueel-motoriese ontwikkeling en die stand van perseptueel-motoriese vaardighede by graad R-leerders ondersoek. ʼn Gekombineerde-navorsingsmetode vanuit ʼn post-positivistiese paradigma is hiervoor onderneem en dit is volgens ʼn fenomenologies-interpretivistiese perspektief uitgevoer. ʼn Selfopgestelde vraelys wat bestaan het uit geslote-en oopeind-vrae is as meetinstrument gebruik om vyf-en-twintig (n = 25) graad R-onderwysers se kennis oor die ontwikkeling van perseptueel-motoriese vaardighede van graad R-leerders in die Potchefstroomdistrik, in te win. Die vraelys het bestaan uit die invul van biografiese gegewens, tien vrae waar die onderwyser se kennis met betrekking tot perseptueel-motoriese vaardighede bepaal is, sestien vrae waar ʼn scenario met ʼn foto en beskrywing geskets is en die onderwyser die korrekte perseptueel-motoriese vaardigheid daaraan moes koppel en agt vrae waar die onderwyser se kennis ten opsigte van die ontwikkeling van perseptueel-motoriese vaardighede in graad R bepaal is. Die inligting uit die vraelyste is deur middel van Atlas.ti™ en statistiese ontleding geanaliseer. Interne itemkorrelasie van die vraelys is vasgestel en ʼn Cronbach Alpha met ʼn waarde van 0,74, gebaseer op die statistiese analise, is bepaal. Die resultate het leemtes in graad R-onderwysers se kennis met betrekking tot aspekte wat verband hou met perseptueel-motoriese onwikkeling getoon. Onvoldoende opleiding is by 80% van die respondente geïdentifiseer, wat tot die leemte in die onderwysers se kennis kon bydrae. Verder het dié onderwysers nie oor die voldoende kennis beskik oor die volle omvang van die Kurrikulum- en Assesseringsbeleidsverklaring nie en ʼn groot persentasie was onseker oor hoe om kurrikulumvoorskrifte effektief te implementeer. Die verband tussen sekere biografiese veranderlikes en die graad R-onderwyseres se houding teenoor die ontwikkeling van perseptueel-motoriese vaardighede van graad R-leerders is vir doelstelling 3 bepaal. ʼn Kwantitatiewe navorsingmetode is gevolg waar graad R-onderwysers (n = 25) wat volgens beskikbaarheid geselekteer is, ʼn selfontwikkelde vraelys voltooi het, waar die hoeveelheid tyd wat aan verskillende vakke bestee word, aangedui is. Resultate is statisties geanaliseer deur gebruik te maak van beskrywende statistiek sowel as Spearman se rangorde-korrelasie om te bepaal of daar ʼn verband bestaan tussen die onderwysers se houding, soos gemeet aan die hoeveelheid tyd wat aan die onderrig van die verskillende vakke in graad R bestee is, die ouderdom en ondervinding van die onderwysers, die aantal leerders in die klas en die sosio-ekonomiese omstandighede van leerders in die klas. Tweerigting-frekwensietabelle is verder gebruik om Chi-kwadraattoetse en Cramer’s V wat die sterkte van die verband tussen ras, taal van onderrig en die vrae wat verband hou met houding te bepaal. ʼn Beduidende verband is gevind tussen ouderdom en ondervinding van die respondente en die hoeveelheid leerders in die klas, die sosio-ekonomiese omgewing en die tyd wat aan onderrig van vakke bestee word. Hierdie aspekte kan moontlik bydra tot die onderwysers se houding ten opsigte van die onderrig van Lewensvaardighede, wat perseptueel-motoriese ontwikkeling insluit. Indien dié aspekte aangespreek kan word deur intervensie en indiensopleiding, kan die onderwyser se houding teenoor die onderrig van Lewensvaardighede moontlik verander, wat sal bydra tot groter klem op die ontwikkeling van perseptueel-motoriese vaardighede. Doelstelling 4 het die impak van die gebruik van toepaslike leer- en onderrigsteunmateriaal op die ontwikkeling van perseptueel-motoriese vaardighede met die fokus op groot- en klein (fyn) motoriese vaardighede by die graad R-skole bepaal. Om die doelstelling te bereik is leerders van twee skole binne dieselfde sosio-ekonomiese omstandighede se skoolgereedheid tydens ʼn voortoets bepaal. ʼn Gekombineerde navorsingsmetode met ʼn tweegroep-voortoets-natoets-ontwerp is gevolg. Leerders van twee graad R-skole (kwintiel 1) met ʼn gemiddelde ouderdom van 5,2 (± 0,5) jaar in die Potchefstroomdistrik is met ʼn gerieflikheidsteekproef geselekteer. ʼn Perseptueel-motoriese intervensie, wat gefokus het op die ontwikkeling van perseptueel-motoriese vaardighede is deur middel van onderwyser-ondersteuning en die skep van ʼn effektiewe leeromgewing, vanaf Februarie tot November (nege maande) by die eksperimentele skool (n = 25) uitgevoer, terwyl geen addisionele hulpverlening in die kontroleskool (n = 30) plaasgevind het nie. Die kwantitatiewe resultate is ontleed deur middel van ʼn afhanklike- en onafhanklike t-toets en ʼn ANCOVA is gebruik om verskille tussen en binne die skole te bepaal. Die kwalitatiewe navorsing is deur middel van ʼn multi-metode-benadering met die fokus op foto-analise en beskrywende inligting geanaliseer. Voor intervensie was geen van die leerders in die twee skole skoolgereed nie. Na die intervensie was die aangepaste gemiddeldes wat behaal is in die natoets vir klein- en grootspier-koördinasie by die eksperimentele skool prakties betekenisvol beter as dié van die kontroleskool. In die eksperimentele skool was 17 uit 20 leerders na die intervensie skoolgereed, terwyl daar uit die kontroleskool slegs 8 uit 28 leerders skoolgereed was. Die resultate dui daarop dat perseptueel-motoriese vaardighede van leerders vanuit ʼn lae sosio-ekonomiese omgewing met effektiewe LOSM gestimuleer kan word om hul skoolgereedheid te verbeter. Vroeë intervensie in die vorm van onderwyser-ondersteuning en opgradering van die leeromgewing wat fokus op die ontwikkeling van perseptueel-motoriese vaardighede in graad R, kan moontlik agterstande in die verband aanspreek en sodoende bydra tot die verbetering van skoolgereed. Op grond van bogenoemde resultate kan daar tot die gevolgtrekking gekom word dat die graad R-leerder in gedepriveerde omgewings se perseptueel-motoriese ontwikkeling wel deur verskeie faktore negatief beïnvloed kan word. Van hierdie faktore is onder meer die onderwyser se houding, leemte in kennis, onvoldoende opleiding en beskikbaarheid van leer- en onderrigsteunmateriaal. Daar word gevolglik aanbeveel dat leerders wat in lae sosio-ekonomiese omgewings grootword aan ʼn vroeë intervensie, wat fokus op die ontwikkeling van perseptueel-motoriese vaardighede en effektiewe LOSM, blootgestel moet word. Daarbenewens behoort onderwysers se leemte in kennis oor perseptueel-motoriese vaardighede asook hul houding oor die belangrikheid van perseptueel-motoriese vaardighede aangespreek te word deur onder andere indiensopleidingsprogramme. Die belang van die aanstelling van goed opgeleide onderwysers, gerig op vroeë kinderontwikkeling behoort ook by die Departement van Basiese Onderwys aandag te geniet. Sodoende kan dié leerders se agterstande tydig oorkom word en hul skoolgereedheid verbeter word. / PhD (Human Movement Science), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

Die ontwikkeling van perseptueel-motoriese vaardighede is noodsaaklik om skoolsukses in graad 1 te verseker. Sodanige perseptueel-motoriese vaardighede word beïnvloed deur faktore soos die onderwyser se houding, en kennis en die gebruik van leer- en onderrigsteunmateriaal (LOSM). Om skoolsukses in graad 1 te verseker moet die leerder skoolgereed en skoolryp wees. Skoolgereedheid en skoolrypheid word beïnvloed deur eksterne faktore, soos die sosio-ekonomiese omstandighede, samelewing, gemeenskap, kultuur, die skool, die onderwyser, beskikbaarheid van leer- en onderrigsteunmateriaal, ouers en gesinstrukture. Daar is met die proefskrif gepoog om eerstens die effek van ʼn leerondersteuningintervensie op perseptueel-motoriese vaardighede van graad R-leerders in gedepriveerde omgewings te bepaal. Tweedens is daar bepaal of die leemtes in graad R-onderwysers se kennis van perseptueel-motoriese vaardighede die skoolgereedheid van graad R-leerders kan beïnvloed. Die derde doelstelling was om die verband tussen sekere biografiese veranderlikes en die graad R-onderwyseres se houding teenoor die ontwikkeling van perseptueel-motoriese vaardighede van graad R-leerders te bepaal. Die vierde doelstelling het die impak van die gebruik van toepaslike LOSM op die ontwikkeling van graad R-leerders se perseptueel-motoriese vaardighede, met die fokus op klein- en grootmotoriese vaardighede bepaal. Om doelstelling 1 te ontleed het die proefskrif eerstens gepoog om die effek van ʼn leerondersteuningintervensie op skoolgereedheid gebaseer op perseptueel-motoriese vaardighede van graad R-leerders in gedepriveerde omgewings te bepaal. ʼn Leerderondersteuningintervensie wat gefokus het op die ontwikkeling van perseptueel-motoriese vaardighede van graad R-leerders vanuit lae sosio-ekonomiese samelewings is saamgestel. ʼn Kwantitatiewe navorsingsmetode is gevolg met ʼn drie-groep-voortoets-natoets-ontwerp. Die populasie vir hierdie doelstelling het bestaan uit drie graad R-skole wat deur middel van ʼn gerieflikheidsteekproef gekies is. Twee kwintiel 1-skole, ʼn kontroleskool (n = 30) en ʼn eksperimentele skool (n = 25), asook een kwintiel 3-skool (n = 22) is gekies. ʼn Leerderondersteuningintervensie wat gefokus het op die ontwikkeling van perseptueel-motoriese vaardighede is oor ʼn tydperk van nege maande by die eksperimentele skool (skool E) geïmplementeer deurdat hulp aan die onderwysers verleen is en die leeromgewing van die leerders opgegradeer is. Die leerders is voor- en na die intervensie deur middel van ʼn skoolgereedheidstoets geevalueer. Die resultate is deur middel van ʼn variansie-analise (ANOVA), kovariansie-analise (ANCOVA) en afhanklike t-toetse geanaliseer om die verskille tussen en binne groepe te bepaal. ʼn Beduidende verband tussen skoolgereedheid en perseptueel-motoriese ontwikkeling is gevind waar faktore soos die omgewing, minimum leer- en onderrigsteunmateriaal en beperkte kennis van die onderwyser ʼn rol gespeel het. Vanaf die voortoets tot die natoets was die persentasie skoolgereedheid onderskeidelik soos volg kontroleskool 1 (32% - 56%), kontroleskool 2 (58% - 70%), eksperimentele skool (34% - 66%). ʼn Groter verbetering in die skoolgereedheid kan by die eksperimentele skool waargeneem word. Die resultate het aangedui dat ʼn perseptueel-motoriese intervensie leerders in lae sosio-ekonomiese omgewings kan help om faktore soos ʼn gebrek aan LOSM, leemtes in onderwysers se kennis en houdings wat skoolgereedheid moontlik kan beïnvloed, te oorkom. Doelstelling 2 het die verband tussen leemtes in graad R-onderwysers (n = 25) se kennis van perseptueel-motoriese ontwikkeling en die stand van perseptueel-motoriese vaardighede by graad R-leerders ondersoek. ʼn Gekombineerde-navorsingsmetode vanuit ʼn post-positivistiese paradigma is hiervoor onderneem en dit is volgens ʼn fenomenologies-interpretivistiese perspektief uitgevoer. ʼn Selfopgestelde vraelys wat bestaan het uit geslote-en oopeind-vrae is as meetinstrument gebruik om vyf-en-twintig (n = 25) graad R-onderwysers se kennis oor die ontwikkeling van perseptueel-motoriese vaardighede van graad R-leerders in die Potchefstroomdistrik, in te win. Die vraelys het bestaan uit die invul van biografiese gegewens, tien vrae waar die onderwyser se kennis met betrekking tot perseptueel-motoriese vaardighede bepaal is, sestien vrae waar ʼn scenario met ʼn foto en beskrywing geskets is en die onderwyser die korrekte perseptueel-motoriese vaardigheid daaraan moes koppel en agt vrae waar die onderwyser se kennis ten opsigte van die ontwikkeling van perseptueel-motoriese vaardighede in graad R bepaal is. Die inligting uit die vraelyste is deur middel van Atlas.ti™ en statistiese ontleding geanaliseer. Interne itemkorrelasie van die vraelys is vasgestel en ʼn Cronbach Alpha met ʼn waarde van 0,74, gebaseer op die statistiese analise, is bepaal. Die resultate het leemtes in graad R-onderwysers se kennis met betrekking tot aspekte wat verband hou met perseptueel-motoriese onwikkeling getoon. Onvoldoende opleiding is by 80% van die respondente geïdentifiseer, wat tot die leemte in die onderwysers se kennis kon bydrae. Verder het dié onderwysers nie oor die voldoende kennis beskik oor die volle omvang van die Kurrikulum- en Assesseringsbeleidsverklaring nie en ʼn groot persentasie was onseker oor hoe om kurrikulumvoorskrifte effektief te implementeer. Die verband tussen sekere biografiese veranderlikes en die graad R-onderwyseres se houding teenoor die ontwikkeling van perseptueel-motoriese vaardighede van graad R-leerders is vir doelstelling 3 bepaal. ʼn Kwantitatiewe navorsingmetode is gevolg waar graad R-onderwysers (n = 25) wat volgens beskikbaarheid geselekteer is, ʼn selfontwikkelde vraelys voltooi het, waar die hoeveelheid tyd wat aan verskillende vakke bestee word, aangedui is. Resultate is statisties geanaliseer deur gebruik te maak van beskrywende statistiek sowel as Spearman se rangorde-korrelasie om te bepaal of daar ʼn verband bestaan tussen die onderwysers se houding, soos gemeet aan die hoeveelheid tyd wat aan die onderrig van die verskillende vakke in graad R bestee is, die ouderdom en ondervinding van die onderwysers, die aantal leerders in die klas en die sosio-ekonomiese omstandighede van leerders in die klas. Tweerigting-frekwensietabelle is verder gebruik om Chi-kwadraattoetse en Cramer’s V wat die sterkte van die verband tussen ras, taal van onderrig en die vrae wat verband hou met houding te bepaal. ʼn Beduidende verband is gevind tussen ouderdom en ondervinding van die respondente en die hoeveelheid leerders in die klas, die sosio-ekonomiese omgewing en die tyd wat aan onderrig van vakke bestee word. Hierdie aspekte kan moontlik bydra tot die onderwysers se houding ten opsigte van die onderrig van Lewensvaardighede, wat perseptueel-motoriese ontwikkeling insluit. Indien dié aspekte aangespreek kan word deur intervensie en indiensopleiding, kan die onderwyser se houding teenoor die onderrig van Lewensvaardighede moontlik verander, wat sal bydra tot groter klem op die ontwikkeling van perseptueel-motoriese vaardighede. Doelstelling 4 het die impak van die gebruik van toepaslike leer- en onderrigsteunmateriaal op die ontwikkeling van perseptueel-motoriese vaardighede met die fokus op groot- en klein (fyn) motoriese vaardighede by die graad R-skole bepaal. Om die doelstelling te bereik is leerders van twee skole binne dieselfde sosio-ekonomiese omstandighede se skoolgereedheid tydens ʼn voortoets bepaal. ʼn Gekombineerde navorsingsmetode met ʼn tweegroep-voortoets-natoets-ontwerp is gevolg. Leerders van twee graad R-skole (kwintiel 1) met ʼn gemiddelde ouderdom van 5,2 (± 0,5) jaar in die Potchefstroomdistrik is met ʼn gerieflikheidsteekproef geselekteer. ʼn Perseptueel-motoriese intervensie, wat gefokus het op die ontwikkeling van perseptueel-motoriese vaardighede is deur middel van onderwyser-ondersteuning en die skep van ʼn effektiewe leeromgewing, vanaf Februarie tot November (nege maande) by die eksperimentele skool (n = 25) uitgevoer, terwyl geen addisionele hulpverlening in die kontroleskool (n = 30) plaasgevind het nie. Die kwantitatiewe resultate is ontleed deur middel van ʼn afhanklike- en onafhanklike t-toets en ʼn ANCOVA is gebruik om verskille tussen en binne die skole te bepaal. Die kwalitatiewe navorsing is deur middel van ʼn multi-metode-benadering met die fokus op foto-analise en beskrywende inligting geanaliseer. Voor intervensie was geen van die leerders in die twee skole skoolgereed nie. Na die intervensie was die aangepaste gemiddeldes wat behaal is in die natoets vir klein- en grootspier-koördinasie by die eksperimentele skool prakties betekenisvol beter as dié van die kontroleskool. In die eksperimentele skool was 17 uit 20 leerders na die intervensie skoolgereed, terwyl daar uit die kontroleskool slegs 8 uit 28 leerders skoolgereed was. Die resultate dui daarop dat perseptueel-motoriese vaardighede van leerders vanuit ʼn lae sosio-ekonomiese omgewing met effektiewe LOSM gestimuleer kan word om hul skoolgereedheid te verbeter. Vroeë intervensie in die vorm van onderwyser-ondersteuning en opgradering van die leeromgewing wat fokus op die ontwikkeling van perseptueel-motoriese vaardighede in graad R, kan moontlik agterstande in die verband aanspreek en sodoende bydra tot die verbetering van skoolgereed. Op grond van bogenoemde resultate kan daar tot die gevolgtrekking gekom word dat die graad R-leerder in gedepriveerde omgewings se perseptueel-motoriese ontwikkeling wel deur verskeie faktore negatief beïnvloed kan word. Van hierdie faktore is onder meer die onderwyser se houding, leemte in kennis, onvoldoende opleiding en beskikbaarheid van leer- en onderrigsteunmateriaal. Daar word gevolglik aanbeveel dat leerders wat in lae sosio-ekonomiese omgewings grootword aan ʼn vroeë intervensie, wat fokus op die ontwikkeling van perseptueel-motoriese vaardighede en effektiewe LOSM, blootgestel moet word. Daarbenewens behoort onderwysers se leemte in kennis oor perseptueel-motoriese vaardighede asook hul houding oor die belangrikheid van perseptueel-motoriese vaardighede aangespreek te word deur onder andere indiensopleidingsprogramme. Die belang van die aanstelling van goed opgeleide onderwysers, gerig op vroeë kinderontwikkeling behoort ook by die Departement van Basiese Onderwys aandag te geniet. Sodoende kan dié leerders se agterstande tydig oorkom word en hul skoolgereedheid verbeter word. / PhD (Human Movement Science), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of an eight-week fundamental motor skills program on the physical and cognitive development of Grade 1 learners. The Basic Motor Ability Test was used in the evaluation of the 39 learners that formed the experimental group as well as for the 29 learners in the control group. Two additional subtests were included, namely the 400m endurance run and a dynamic balance test. After the initial testing the experimental group participated in an eight-week skills program for 30 minutes a day, four days a week. The program included stability, locomotor and manipulation activities. Hereafter a retest was done. The control group only completes the test and retest and not the skills program. The data of the variables tested were coded in computer format and statistically evaluated. In the processing of the data, the raw datum (performance) was converted to percentile norms. In order to determine if a child had improved in a certain physiological parameter percentile norms are used. The t-test was used to determine if the skills program had a positive influence on the variables tested. Two different t-test were used: the t-test for independent groups and the t-test for paired groups. The experimental research revealed that the skills program did not have a significant influence on most of the tested variables. In some instances the experimental and control groups were not on the same level at the start of the research, which made it more difficult to compare the two groups. For some variables both the experimental and control groups improved which is an indication that the improvement cannot be ascribed to the skills program alone. The following two variables, sit-and-reach and co-ordination (hand-eye) did improve notably and it may be due to the influence of the skills program. In both instances the average performance of the experimental group improved while this improvement was not evident in the control group. The cognitive variables were assessed by a questionnaire administered by each learner’s teacher after the conclusion of the skills program. Only the experimental group was involved. The questionnaire consisted of six questions comprising both categorical and open responses. The cognitive variables that were assessed were the following: 1. venturesome ness; 2. attention and concentration; 3. self esteem; 4. socialization and ability to work in a group; 5. ability to plan; and 6. ability to finish his/her given task. The results indicated that more than half of the learners improved in all the cognitive variables. Socialization and the ability to work in a group improved in most of the learners. / Thesis (DPhil (Human Movement Science))--University of Pretoria, 2005. / Biokinetics, Sport and Leisure Sciences / unrestricted

Several researchers have reported that the perceptual-motor skills of today’s children are not optimally developed. Furthermore, childhood obesity has increased worldwide and is a cause for concern due to the effect that it has on the present and future public health of children. Childhood obesity has a bearing on a rise in chronic paediatric diseases and an increase in hypertension, as well as on motor and physical deficits. In spite of the inadequate perceptual-motor development that is reported, few studies have been reported that examine the effect of school-based movement development programmes to improve the motor proficiency of school beginners. Firstly, in this thesis, an attempt was made to establish a general profile of the motor proficiency of Grade 1 learners in the North West Province of South Africa, and to determine possible gender and racial differences. Secondly, the relationship between the body composition and blood pressure of Grade 1 learners was examined. Thirdly, the relationship between the body composition and motor, physical and object control skills of these learners was examined. The fourth objective was to determine the effect of school-based movement development programmes on the perceptual-motor proficiency of Grade 1 learners. For objectives one to three, data were collected by means of a stratified randomised sample of 816 Grade 1 learners (419 boys, 397 girls) with a mean age of 6,78 years (+ 0,49) who participated in the NW-CHILD study. The short form of the “Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency-2” (Bruininks & Bruininks, 2005), which consists of eight subcomponents, was used to determine the learners’ motor proficiency and the “Test of Gross Motor Development-2” was used to determine the learners’ object control skills. Stature, body mass, skinfolds (subscapular, triceps and calf) and waist circumference were measured according to standard kinantropometric protocols. International cut-off points for body mass index (BMI) were used to classify learners in normal, overweight or obese categories. Blood pressure was measured by means of an Omron 705CP-II. With regard to objective 1, it appeared from the results, which were analysed with descriptive statistics and ttesting, and by making use of the Statistica computer program, that Grade 1 learners exhibit below average (49,63%) to average (48,16%) motor proficiency. The poorest skills exhibited by the learners were in strength, fine motor integration and fine motor precision. The motor proficiency of the boys was mostly average (63,96%) as opposed to that of the girls, which was largely classified as below average (64,74%), although the girls’ manual dexterity and bilateral co-ordination was significantly better compared to the boys. The motor proficiency of most of the white children was average (69,27%), compared to 58,73% of the black children, whose motor proficiency was below average. White children performed significantly better in fine motor precision, fine motor integration, manual dexterity, bilateral co-ordination, upper limb co-ordination and strength skills, and black children in balancing and running speed and agility skills. Concerning objective 2, it appeared from the results, which were analysed with descriptive statistics, the Spearman correlation coefficients and one-way analysis of variance, that the overall incidence of prehypertension and hypertension was 8,5% and 24,9% respectively. Both systolic and diastolic blood pressure exhibited a significant relationship with BMI, body fat percentage and waist circumference. Boys and girls exhibited the same incidence of hypertension. A higher percentage of the black children were hypertensive compared to the white children, although the difference in the blood pressure of the groups was not significant. A high percentage of children of normal weight also exhibited high levels of blood pressure. As far as objective 3 is concerned, it appeared from the results, which were analysed with descriptive statistics, Spearman correlation coefficients and one-way analysis of variance, that 1 out of every 10 learners (11,64%) was overweight (7,84%) or obese (3,80%). Fine motor precision, balance, running speed, agility and strength exhibited a significant relationship with body mass index (p<0.05), while no clear relationship was found between object control skills, upper limb co-ordination and body mass index. For objective 4, two schools were selected from the total sample in one urban area, which consisted of 75 learners (school 1=40 and school 2=35) who had a mean age of 6,66 years (+ 0,24) and who participated in two different perceptual-motor movement development programmes. The perceptual-motor movement development programme of School 1 was based on a process-oriented approach, as opposed to the programme of School 2, which was based on a product-oriented approach. Motor proficiency was measured by making use of the short form of the “Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency-2”. The results, which were analysed with descriptive statistics, independent t-testing and a covariance of analysis, showed that both movement development programmes contributed to significant improvements in some of the motor proficiency subcomponents. However, the process-oriented movement programme contributed to a greater extent to improvement on an individual level, which was attributed to the improved underlying neurological processes of motor proficiency and bilateral integration that underwent improvement as a result, while the level of motor proficiency mastery of the product-oriented movement development programme remained unchanged. On the grounds of the above results it is advised that educators, such as the Physical Education teachers who work with Grade 1 learners, take note of the possible deficits with regard to motor proficiency, overweight and obesity, and implement suitable intervention programmes, taking into consideration the gender and racial specific differences that were found in this study. The measuring of blood pressure for basic screening purposes is important in the child population and interventions that include physical activity are advised to reduce the potential cardiovascular complications of obesity amongst children. It could also be recommended that school-based movement development programmes, which are presented by specialists, be implemented in order to improve the motor proficiency of Grade 1 learners and to also contribute to the improvement of the skills of learners with perceptual-motor and physical proficiency problems. / Thesis (PhD (Human Movement Sciences))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013

Several researchers have reported that the perceptual-motor skills of today’s children are not optimally developed. Furthermore, childhood obesity has increased worldwide and is a cause for concern due to the effect that it has on the present and future public health of children. Childhood obesity has a bearing on a rise in chronic paediatric diseases and an increase in hypertension, as well as on motor and physical deficits. In spite of the inadequate perceptual-motor development that is reported, few studies have been reported that examine the effect of school-based movement development programmes to improve the motor proficiency of school beginners. Firstly, in this thesis, an attempt was made to establish a general profile of the motor proficiency of Grade 1 learners in the North West Province of South Africa, and to determine possible gender and racial differences. Secondly, the relationship between the body composition and blood pressure of Grade 1 learners was examined. Thirdly, the relationship between the body composition and motor, physical and object control skills of these learners was examined. The fourth objective was to determine the effect of school-based movement development programmes on the perceptual-motor proficiency of Grade 1 learners. For objectives one to three, data were collected by means of a stratified randomised sample of 816 Grade 1 learners (419 boys, 397 girls) with a mean age of 6,78 years (+ 0,49) who participated in the NW-CHILD study. The short form of the “Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency-2” (Bruininks & Bruininks, 2005), which consists of eight subcomponents, was used to determine the learners’ motor proficiency and the “Test of Gross Motor Development-2” was used to determine the learners’ object control skills. Stature, body mass, skinfolds (subscapular, triceps and calf) and waist circumference were measured according to standard kinantropometric protocols. International cut-off points for body mass index (BMI) were used to classify learners in normal, overweight or obese categories. Blood pressure was measured by means of an Omron 705CP-II. With regard to objective 1, it appeared from the results, which were analysed with descriptive statistics and ttesting, and by making use of the Statistica computer program, that Grade 1 learners exhibit below average (49,63%) to average (48,16%) motor proficiency. The poorest skills exhibited by the learners were in strength, fine motor integration and fine motor precision. The motor proficiency of the boys was mostly average (63,96%) as opposed to that of the girls, which was largely classified as below average (64,74%), although the girls’ manual dexterity and bilateral co-ordination was significantly better compared to the boys. The motor proficiency of most of the white children was average (69,27%), compared to 58,73% of the black children, whose motor proficiency was below average. White children performed significantly better in fine motor precision, fine motor integration, manual dexterity, bilateral co-ordination, upper limb co-ordination and strength skills, and black children in balancing and running speed and agility skills. Concerning objective 2, it appeared from the results, which were analysed with descriptive statistics, the Spearman correlation coefficients and one-way analysis of variance, that the overall incidence of prehypertension and hypertension was 8,5% and 24,9% respectively. Both systolic and diastolic blood pressure exhibited a significant relationship with BMI, body fat percentage and waist circumference. Boys and girls exhibited the same incidence of hypertension. A higher percentage of the black children were hypertensive compared to the white children, although the difference in the blood pressure of the groups was not significant. A high percentage of children of normal weight also exhibited high levels of blood pressure. As far as objective 3 is concerned, it appeared from the results, which were analysed with descriptive statistics, Spearman correlation coefficients and one-way analysis of variance, that 1 out of every 10 learners (11,64%) was overweight (7,84%) or obese (3,80%). Fine motor precision, balance, running speed, agility and strength exhibited a significant relationship with body mass index (p<0.05), while no clear relationship was found between object control skills, upper limb co-ordination and body mass index. For objective 4, two schools were selected from the total sample in one urban area, which consisted of 75 learners (school 1=40 and school 2=35) who had a mean age of 6,66 years (+ 0,24) and who participated in two different perceptual-motor movement development programmes. The perceptual-motor movement development programme of School 1 was based on a process-oriented approach, as opposed to the programme of School 2, which was based on a product-oriented approach. Motor proficiency was measured by making use of the short form of the “Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency-2”. The results, which were analysed with descriptive statistics, independent t-testing and a covariance of analysis, showed that both movement development programmes contributed to significant improvements in some of the motor proficiency subcomponents. However, the process-oriented movement programme contributed to a greater extent to improvement on an individual level, which was attributed to the improved underlying neurological processes of motor proficiency and bilateral integration that underwent improvement as a result, while the level of motor proficiency mastery of the product-oriented movement development programme remained unchanged. On the grounds of the above results it is advised that educators, such as the Physical Education teachers who work with Grade 1 learners, take note of the possible deficits with regard to motor proficiency, overweight and obesity, and implement suitable intervention programmes, taking into consideration the gender and racial specific differences that were found in this study. The measuring of blood pressure for basic screening purposes is important in the child population and interventions that include physical activity are advised to reduce the potential cardiovascular complications of obesity amongst children. It could also be recommended that school-based movement development programmes, which are presented by specialists, be implemented in order to improve the motor proficiency of Grade 1 learners and to also contribute to the improvement of the skills of learners with perceptual-motor and physical proficiency problems. / Thesis (PhD (Human Movement Sciences))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013