Comparative study between school and motor performance in children aged 6 to 11 years according to teachers’ perceptions

Abstract

Introduction: Motor skills are enlarged during schooling age, with possible relation between motor and school performance. Objective: Compare motor skills of children with good and poor school performance, according to the teacher’s perception in the classroom. Method: School children aged 6 to 11 years were divided into two groups; poor school performance (PSP) and good school performance (GSP) and evaluated using the Motor Development Scale (MDS). The chronological age, general motor age and the motor quotient of each area evaluated were compared between the groups using the Mann-Whitney Test. The Chi-square test was used to associate the motor performance classification and the school performance. Results: Chronological age was similar between groups, although the general motor age was smaller in the PSP. The general motor quotient and the motor quotients in the areas of body scheme, spatial and temporal organization were significantly smaller in PSP. Most children were classified by the MDS as Low Normal or Medium Normal motor skills in both groups; however in the GSP, 27.5% of the children had a High Normal or Superior motor development and only 2.5% were classified as Very Inferior or Inferior. In the PSP, 12.5% had a Very Inferior or Inferior performance and only 6.25% had a High Normal or Superior performance (p < 0.05 – chi-square test). Conclusion: Results show a direct connection between poor school performance and motor skill difficulties, which illustrates the relation between motor and cognitive skills.