Comparative analysis of fundamental motor skills in preschool children: A cross cultural study of Bosnia & Herzegovina and Germany

Abstract

Fundamental motor skills are the foundation of individual motor development and are very important for the later specialization of skills, as well as for physical activity. These skills are developed in children regardless of gender, because they are the basic skills of motor development. However, the way in which fundamental motor skills are developed in children can differ with respect to gender and geographical region. This research aimed to assess the fundamental motor skills of preschool-aged children from Bosnia and Herzegovina and Germany, investigating whether geographic region and gender, as dichotomous variables, influence these skills. The study involved 79 children aged 3 to 7 years (both gender) with 39 from Bosnia and Herzegovina and 40 from Germany. The Test of Gross Motor Development (TGMD-3) was utilized for validation, and a two-way analysis of variance was employed. The testing was conducted on every participant idividually with the average testing time per participant ranging from 20 to 25 minutes. The assessments were video recorded. The results indicated cross-cultural differences in fundamental motor skills, with children from Bosnia & Herzegovina exhibiting superior performances in locomotion ('Gallop', 'Jump', 'Hop', 'Skip', and 'Slide') and ball skills ('One-hand forehand strike of self-bounced ball', 'One-hand stationary dribble', 'Two-hand catch', 'Kick a stationary ball', 'Overhand throw', and 'Underhand Throw'). Conversely, children from Germany demonstrated better proficiency in the 'Run' and 'Strike' variables. In general, the obtained research results should encourage experts to stimulate balanced development of fundamental motor skills in children, which can affect their overall physical development.