The impact of different family background on children's fundamental movement skills proficiency

Abstract

Abstract Purpose This study was to explore the impact of different family background on children's physical activity. Whether the parents’ age, educational level, exercise habits, number of siblings, affect differences in the development of children’s fundamental motor skills [FMS]. Methods A sample of 6200 parents participated in this study, with the age of the children ranging between 2 and 6 years. The questionnaires were mostly filled out by mothers, the parents were between 30 and 45 years old, and most of them had a college degree or above. The research was based on the self-compiled questionnaire “2–6 years young children’s fundamental motor skills questionnaire”. The questionnaire consisted of 3 dimensions (stability motor skills, locomotor motor skills, manipulative motor skills.) Each participant completed the information, in addition subjectively completing the questionnaire according to the child's FMS performance. The data were analyzed with descriptive statistics and single-factor analysis of variation. Results The results of this study revealed that different family background variables had significantly different effects on children's FMS development. Children who had an older parent, high school or college education, a household monthly income of more than 2,200 US dollars, lived in rural areas, had siblings at home, and who maintained moderate intensity for more than 30 min once a week had better FMS performance. Conclusion Parents' exercise habits, as well as parents' age and education had a positive effect on children's FMS. In addition to requiring parents to accompany activities, arranging an environment suitable for exercise and having more interactive games with older peers could help FMS performance in children.

Keywords

• Young children
• Parental attitudes
• FMS
• Physical activities
• Physical education