An Evaluative Study of the Fundamental Motor Skills of Kindergarten Children Aged Five Years

Abstract

The present study aims to evaluate the fundamental motor skills of kindergarten children aged five years at Al-Amal Kindergarten in the center of Babylon Governorate, through identifying their performance level and establishing criteria applicable for assessing this age group. The descriptive method was adopted due to its suitability for the nature of the problem. The research population consisted of 100 children, while the sample included 30 children selected randomly using the simple random method.

A validated questionnaire was employed to identify the essential motor skills, followed by administering field tests for walking, running, jumping, hopping, and throwing. The collected raw scores were converted into standardized scores based on the normal distribution curve, in addition to using the median, standard deviation, standard error, and skewness coefficient.

The results indicated that all members of the sample achieved a medium standardized level in all fundamental motor skills, with no representation of good or poor levels. The statistical values also demonstrated low standard error across skills, indicating appropriate sample representation.

The study concludes that developing fundamental motor skills during the preschool stage is educationally essential. It further recommends conducting periodic assessments to identify strengths and weaknesses and preparing qualified specialists to work in kindergarten settings.