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Motor Skills of 5-Year-Old Children: Gender Differences and Activity and Family Correlates

It is unclear why there may be gender differences in the motor skills of same aged children. We compared motor skill competence of 5-year-old boys and girls (n = 712) and examined whether variations in time spent in different types of activities and in family-related variables were associated with motor skills. We measured motor skills with the Bruininks–Oseretsky Test, Second Edition short form, and we used parental questionnaires to measure behavioral and family-related variables. Girls outperformed boys on most motor skills tasks, as eight of 14 tests showed statistically significant gender differences (p < .001). In addition, drawing or doing handicrafts for 60 minutes or more per day was positively associated with fine motor control (p < .001). Father’s higher education was associated with the children’s better body coordination (p = .020). Finally, both attending day care (p = .017) and outdoor physical activity for 60 minutes or more per day (p = .034) were positively associated with strength and agility. We found no associations between manual coordination and either daily activities or family-related variables. Time spent in different activities of young children should be recognized as a means of enhancing the development of fundamental motor skills.