Description:
Pre-schoolers are in a window period for motor skill development. Visual-motor integration (VMI) is the foundation for academic and sport skills. Therefore, it must develop before formal schooling. This study attempted to improve VMI skills. VMI skills were measured with the Beery-Buktenica developmental test of visual-motor integration 6th edition, and gross motor skills with the Test of gross motor development 2nd edition. One high and one low socio-economic school was conveniently selected. Seventy-seven children were tested, 23 scored below average VMI scores, and became the sample from which an experimental (n = 12) and a control group (n = 11) were randomly selected. The experimental group participated in a 14-week intervention of two 45 min sessions per week. Participants from the low socio-economic school showed significantly lower VMI skills (p = .0013). More research is needed to fully determine the potential of gross motor programmes in improving VMI. (author abstract)
Resource Type:
Reports & Papers
Country:
South Africa