Fundamental Motor Skills, Executive Function Skills, and Reading
Fundamental Motor Skills, Executive Function Skills, and Reading
Learning and Individual Differences published research on the association between fundamental motor skills, executive function skills, and reading. The study included 145 socioeconomically disadvantaged kindergarteners of diverse ethnicity. Each participant was assessed with the following: The Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function–Preschool Version to measure executive function skills, PE Metrics™ was used to measure children’s fundamental motor skills (object control and locomotor skills) and the Early Literacy Inventory to measure reading proficiency.
Data analysis revealed:
- statistically significant relationships between global executive function skills, fundamental motor skills, and reading proficiency.
- the strongest correlation was observed between global executive function skills and reading proficiency.
- reading proficiency was significantly predicted by both working memory and inhibition.
- fundamental motor skills were a significant predictor of global executive function skills.
- the relationship was not significant between fundamental motor skills and reading proficiency directly but the relationship
was fully mediated by global executive function skills.
The researchers concluded that a physical activity program may be important for improving fundamental motor skills and executive function skills in children to encourage reading proficiency.
Reference: Chang, M., & Gu, X. (2018). The role of executive function in linking fundamental motor skills and reading proficiency in socioeconomically disadvantaged kindergarteners. Learning and Individual Differences, 61, 250-255.
Read more about:
Fine Motor Skills, Visual Function, and Reading in Children.
Link Between Reading, Visual Perception, and Visual–Motor Integration
Executive Functions, Motor Abilities and Daily Functioning in Children.
Motor Skills and Executive Function
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