Early childhood fundamental motor skills: visual impairments and non-visually impaired

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to test fundamental motor skills (FMS) in young children with visual impairments (VI) and non-VI children. This study used a cross-sectional design, descriptive-analytic with purposive sampling. Children without VI showed higher locomotor skills (M= 21.38, SD= 6.69) when compared to children with VI (M= 9.70, SD= 3.09). Children without VI showed higher ball skills (M = 18.74, SD = 6.54) when compared to children with VI (M = 5.23, SD = 5.44)). For locomotor skills there was a significant effect on vision (F=17.55, p=.014, η2=.31). For children with VI, birth control (n=7) performed higher (M=10.33, SD=10.54) compared to non-birth VI (n=3; M 4.02, SD=2, 73). For ball skills there was a significant effect on vision (F=21.99, p<0.001, η2=.56). For children with VI, congenital VI (n=7) performed higher (M=6.73, SD=6.69) than non-congenital blind (n=3; M=2.05, SD=1.01). Non-blind children show higher levels of FMS when compared to children with VI. The children with VI in this sample exhibited profound developmental delays requiring further investigation and future intervention.

Keywords

• visual impairments
• locomotor skills
• ball skills
• fundamental motor skills