Matthew H Kim, Sammy F Ahmed, Frederick J Morrison
The Effects of Kindergarten and First Grade Schooling on Executive Function and Academic Skill Development: Evidence From a School Cutoff Design
Frontiers in psychology
closing schools sports clubs covid19 lockdown raised questions possible impact childrens motor skill development therefore compared motor skill development oneyear period among four different cohorts primary school children two experienced lockdowns study period control cohorts two cohorts experienced one two lockdowns study period lockdown cohorts total 992 children 9 primary schools amsterdam netherlands participated study age 5 7 475 boys 525 girls motor skill competence assessed twice first grade 3 t1 thereafter grade 4 t2 children control group 1 lockdown group 1 assessed third time two years t3 motor skill competence assessed using 4skills test includes 4 components motor skill jumping force locomotion jumping coordination coordination bouncing ball object control standing still stability mixed factorial anovas used analyse data significant differences motor skill development study period lockdown groups control groups p 005 found difference found two lockdown groups lockdown group 2 developed significantly better lockdown group 1 p 0008 socioeconomic status effect modifier sex motor ability modify effects lockdowns covid19 lockdowns netherlands negatively affect motor skill development young children study due complexity factors related pandemic lockdowns dynamic systems involved motor skill development children caution must taken drawing general conclusions therefore childrens motor skill development closely monitored upcoming years attention paid individual differences