Characteristics of gross motor skills of elementary school students aged 7 and 8 years: a cross-sectional study -

• Published in: Retos (Madrid) Vol. 59; no. 59; pp. 537 - 546
• Main Authors: Andli Marta, Ibnu, Oktarifaldi, Oktarifaldi, Hachi, Itgo, Wisma, Nur, Rosalina, Venny, S, Wedi, Nopembri, Soni, Erhan Orhan, Bekir, Kurnaz, Mert, Bin Shahril, Mohd Izwan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01-01-2024
• Subjects: control de objetos; elementary school students; estudiantes de primaria; gross motor skills; habilidades motoras gruesas; locomotor; locomotors; object control
• ISSN: 1579-1726; 1988-2041; 1988-2041
• DOI: 10.47197/retos.v59.107293

Adequate gross motor skills are believed to be a determinant in realizing optimal and quality physical activity. This research aims to reveal and describe the gross motor skills of students aged 7 and 8 years and reveal the differences. This research uses a cross-sectional approach. The Test of Gross Motor Development Second Edition (TGMD-2) was used as a data collection instrument. The research subjects were male and female elementary school students aged 7 and 8 selected purposively with details (N=140; boys =70 and girls =70). Data were analyzed using the IBM SPSS statistics program version 25. The results showed the average Gross Motor Quotients in general (M=83.39, SD=9.2), the average Gross Motor Quotients for the 7-year age group (M=84.91 SD= 7.8) and the 8-year age group (M=81.87 SD=10.2). Asymp Sig obtained the results of the (2-tailed) (0.200>0.05). The results of the independent samples test show a significant difference in the students’ average Gross Motor Quotients (p-value <0.05), the 7-year-old group has superior competence compared to the 8-year-old group. Students' gross motor skills are generally below average; male students have superior skills than female students in both age groups, and students' locomotor skills competence is better than object control skills. It is necessary to optimize physical education learning in elementary schools to support increasing students' gross motor competence. Keywords: gross motor skills; locomotor; object control; elementary school students