Relationship of Anthropometric Features with Balance and Fundamental Skills in 3-6 Years Old Girls and Boys in Tehran

Childhood is the most important period of motor development which strongly affects motor function and abilities. The present study aimed to investigate the relationship of anthropometric features with balance and fundamental skills in 3-6 years old girls and boys in Tehran, Iran.

This descriptive-correlational and field study used Morgan table to determine the sample size. For the purpose of the study, 774 children (3-6 years old) in two groups of boys with mean weight of 18.90±4.23 kg and girls with mean weight of 18.03 ± 3.94 kg were selected via cluster sampling from kindergartens in Tehran. This sample size exceeded the calculated value based on Morgan table. Anthropometric indices (e.g., height, arm length, leg length, sitting height), fundamental skills (e.g., jumping, catching the ball, throwing the ball), and balance were measured in this study. To analyze the data, Spearman correlation coefficient was used to examine the relationship between anthropometric features and fundamental skills. Moreover, the Mann-Whitney test was employed to assess differences in fundamental skills between boys and girls.

Based on the results, anthropometric factors were significantly correlated with fundamental skills and balance in girls and boys. Nonetheless, balance was  negatively and significantly correlated with leg length (P=0.02; r=-0.21) and sitting height (P=0.02; r=-0.22) in 5-year-old girls.

Movement limitations in preschool are serious barriers to the development of balance and some fundamental skills, simultaneous with physical development. It is suggested that parents and kindergarten officials promote childrenchr('39')s motor development by providing them with a variety of movement opportunities.