A Comparison of the Fundamental Motor Skills of Preschool-Aged Children With and Without Visual Impairments

in Adapted Physical Activity Quarterly

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Ali Brian University of South Carolina

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Sally Taunton Miedema University of South Carolina

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Jerraco L. Johnson The Ohio State University

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Isabel Chica Miami Lighthouse for the Blind

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DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1123/apaq.2019-0157
Keywords:
blindness; disability; early childhood; gross motor skills; motor competence
First Published Online:
18 Mar 2021
In Print:
Volume 38: Issue 3
Page Range:
349–358
Restricted access

Fundamental motor skills (FMS) are an underlying mechanism driving physical activity behavior and promoting positive developmental trajectories for health. However, little is known about FMS of preschool-aged children with visual impairments (VI). The purpose of this study was to examine the FMS of preschool-aged children (N = 25) with (n = 10) and without (n = 15) VI as measured using the Test of Gross Motor Development-3. Children without VI performed significantly higher than their peers for locomotor (M = +11.87, p = .014, η2 = .31) and ball skills (M = +13.69, p < .001, η2 = .56). Regardless of the presence of a VI, many participants struggled with developing FMS, with the greatest disparity resting within ball skills. These findings help to clarify the FMS levels of preschool-aged children with VI. Thus, there is a need for both further inquiry and intervention for all children.

Brian and Taunton Miedema are with the Dept. of Physical Education, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA. Johnson is with The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA. Chica is with the Miami Lighthouse for the Blind, Miami, FL, USA.

Brian (abrian@sc.edu) is corresponding author.
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