The Comparison of Spark Motor Program and Developmental Gymnastic Instructional Program in Fundamental Skill Development in 6-8-Year-Old Children

Fundamental motor skills are the bases of special motor skills. In addition to maturation، environmental promotion can influence these skills. The aim of this study was to investigate and compare the effect of developmental gymnastic instructional program and Spark motor program as motor experiences on fundamental motor skills development in children aged between 6 and 8. For this purpose، 120 children (6–8 years old) were selected from Tehran primary schools by cluster random sampling method. After the pretest (test of gross motor development، second edition، Ulrich)، the subjects were divided into three groups of Spark motor program، developmental gymnastic instructional program and control. The programs were performed for one year (36 weeks، one session per week، 30 minutes per session). In the 37th week، the posttest was performed. Data were analyzed by paired sample t test and one-way ANOVA. The results showed that Spark program and gymnastic program outperformed the control group in fundamental motor skills and locomotion (P˂0. 05) and the difference between the two experimental groups was not significant. Spark program was more effective than gymnastic program and control group in the development of manipulation skills. Gymnastic program was more effective than the control group in the development of manipulation skills (P˂0. 05). Thus، it can be concluded that instructional programs can be considered as a proper motor experience for children. These programs can be used to develop motor skills at schools through providing suitable opportunities for more training and presenting developmental motor tasks.