The Comparison of Gross Motor Skills Development of Preschool Children with and without Motor Experiences

The aim of this study was to compare gross motor skills development in two subtests (locomotors and object control) in preschool children in the deprived and rich environments. Participants in this study were 39 children (mean age: 5 yr). 19 children were selected from deprived environments without extensive motor experiences, and 20 children from a preschool with extensive motor experiences. Ulrich (2000) gross motor development test was used to collect data. Data were analyzed by independent t test. Results showed that there was a significant difference between two groups of rich and deprived in percentage score of locomotors (P=0.001), percentage score of object control (P=0.004), motor development quotient scores (P=0.001). The findings also showed that children with varied motor experiences and education compared with deprived children had higher qualified function in gross motor skills.