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Gross Motor Development, Physical Activity and Anthropometry of Grade 1's in a South African School

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Title: Gross Motor Development, Physical Activity and Anthropometry of Grade 1's in a South African School
Language: English
Authors: Monique de Milander (ORCID 0000-0003-1275-796X), Elna van der Merwe (ORCID 0000-0001-7451-1506), Bianca Barnard (ORCID 0009-0006-6820-2882), Robynne Verster (ORCID 0009-0000-9237-1949)
Source: South African Journal of Childhood Education. 2025 15(1).
Availability: AOSIS. 15 Oxford Street, Durbanville, Cape Town, 7550 South Africa. Tel: +27-21-975-2602; Fax: +27-21-975-4635; e-mail: publishing@aosis.co.za; Web site: https://sajce.co.za/index.php/sajce
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 12
Publication Date: 2025
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Early Childhood Education
Elementary Education
Grade 1
Primary Education
Descriptors: Psychomotor Skills, Body Composition, Physical Activity Level, Motor Development, Grade 1, Elementary School Students, Correlation, Computer Use, Body Weight, Body Height, Obesity, Foreign Countries
Geographic Terms: South Africa
Assessment and Survey Identifiers: Test of Gross Motor Development
ISSN: 2223-7674
2223-7682
Abstract: Background: Gross motor difficulties can limit physical activity (PA) participation, contributing to unhealthy body composition. Aim: This study profiled Grade 1 learners' gross motor development, PA and anthropometry and explored relationships between these variables. Setting: A cross-sectional design was followed, including Grade 1 learners (33 girls [58%]; 24 boys [42%]) from one primary school. Methods: The Test of Gross Motor Development-3 (TGMD-3) evaluated gross motor development, while the Physical Activity Questionnaire-Young Children (PAQ-YC) determined PA participation. Anthropometry measurements were taken using standardised techniques. Results: Participants predominantly portrayed average gross motor skills (49.1%), ball skills (50.9%) and locomotor skills (64.9%). Participation in a variety of PA types was evident, with outdoor play having the highest median (240 min per week). Participants spent 270 min (median) on screen time per week. Body mass index (BMI) results classified 31.6% of participants as overweight or obese. Central obesity (waist-to-height ratio) was identified in 29.8% of participants, while fat percentage, respectively, categorised 19.3% and 22.8% as overweight and obese. BMI significantly correlated with gross motor index (p = 0.0350; rho = -0.280) and ball skills (p = 0.0351; rho = -0.280), while fat percentage was significantly associated with gross motor index (p = 0.0046). Conclusion: Participants portrayed average gross motor skills and sufficient PA levels, although screen time was high. Unhealthy body composition is significantly related to poorer gross motor skills. Contribution: Alarmingly high incidences of unhealthy body composition negatively affect motor skills. Intervention programmes should therefore be implemented to improve young children's body composition.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1491618
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
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  – Url: https://eric.ed.gov/contentdelivery/servlet/ERICServlet?accno=EJ1491618
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PubType: Academic Journal
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  Data: Gross Motor Development, Physical Activity and Anthropometry of Grade 1's in a South African School
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Monique+de+Milander%22">Monique de Milander</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1275-796X">0000-0003-1275-796X</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Elna+van+der+Merwe%22">Elna van der Merwe</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7451-1506">0000-0001-7451-1506</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Bianca+Barnard%22">Bianca Barnard</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0009-0006-6820-2882">0009-0006-6820-2882</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Robynne+Verster%22">Robynne Verster</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0009-0000-9237-1949">0009-0000-9237-1949</externalLink>)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22South+African+Journal+of+Childhood+Education%22"><i>South African Journal of Childhood Education</i></searchLink>. 2025 15(1).
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  Data: AOSIS. 15 Oxford Street, Durbanville, Cape Town, 7550 South Africa. Tel: +27-21-975-2602; Fax: +27-21-975-4635; e-mail: publishing@aosis.co.za; Web site: https://sajce.co.za/index.php/sajce
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  Data: Y
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  Data: 12
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  Data: 2025
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  Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Early+Childhood+Education%22">Early Childhood Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Elementary+Education%22">Elementary Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Grade+1%22">Grade 1</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Primary+Education%22">Primary Education</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22South+Africa%22">South Africa</searchLink>
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  Label: Assessment and Survey Identifiers
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SU" term="%22Test+of+Gross+Motor+Development%22">Test of Gross Motor Development</searchLink>
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  Data: 2223-7674<br />2223-7682
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Background: Gross motor difficulties can limit physical activity (PA) participation, contributing to unhealthy body composition. Aim: This study profiled Grade 1 learners' gross motor development, PA and anthropometry and explored relationships between these variables. Setting: A cross-sectional design was followed, including Grade 1 learners (33 girls [58%]; 24 boys [42%]) from one primary school. Methods: The Test of Gross Motor Development-3 (TGMD-3) evaluated gross motor development, while the Physical Activity Questionnaire-Young Children (PAQ-YC) determined PA participation. Anthropometry measurements were taken using standardised techniques. Results: Participants predominantly portrayed average gross motor skills (49.1%), ball skills (50.9%) and locomotor skills (64.9%). Participation in a variety of PA types was evident, with outdoor play having the highest median (240 min per week). Participants spent 270 min (median) on screen time per week. Body mass index (BMI) results classified 31.6% of participants as overweight or obese. Central obesity (waist-to-height ratio) was identified in 29.8% of participants, while fat percentage, respectively, categorised 19.3% and 22.8% as overweight and obese. BMI significantly correlated with gross motor index (p = 0.0350; rho = -0.280) and ball skills (p = 0.0351; rho = -0.280), while fat percentage was significantly associated with gross motor index (p = 0.0046). Conclusion: Participants portrayed average gross motor skills and sufficient PA levels, although screen time was high. Unhealthy body composition is significantly related to poorer gross motor skills. Contribution: Alarmingly high incidences of unhealthy body composition negatively affect motor skills. Intervention programmes should therefore be implemented to improve young children's body composition.
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  Data: As Provided
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  Label: Entry Date
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  Data: 2026
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  Label: Accession Number
  Group: ID
  Data: EJ1491618
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=eric&AN=EJ1491618
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 12
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Psychomotor Skills
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Body Composition
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Physical Activity Level
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Motor Development
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Grade 1
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Elementary School Students
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Correlation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Computer Use
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Body Weight
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Body Height
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Obesity
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Foreign Countries
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: South Africa
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Test of Gross Motor Development
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Gross Motor Development, Physical Activity and Anthropometry of Grade 1's in a South African School
        Type: main
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            NameFull: Bianca Barnard
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            NameFull: Robynne Verster
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              Type: published
              Y: 2025
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