Motor competence development of children in Singapore: a cross-sectional and longitudinal study

Understanding the motor competence development of young children requires both cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses. This is crucial for identifying relative age effects and tracking individual developmental trajectories. However, there are limited data in Southeast Asia, particularly in Singapore. This study monitored the development of motor competence of 75 children in Singapore, aged 3-4.5 years, over an 18-month period. Four data points were conducted using the Movement Assessment for Children, 2nd Edition (MABC-2) at six-month intervals. Data were analyzed using repeated measures multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA), two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and post-hoc multiple comparisons. Cross-sectional analysis revealed a positive age effect across all eight motor tasks, with older children demonstrating higher fine and gross motor competence. Longitudinal analysis showed significant improvement in seven out of eight motor tasks over the 18-month period, except for the task of jumping on mats. The most pronounced age effect was observed between children aged 3.5 and 4.0 years, suggesting a potential period of accelerated motor development within this age range. The significant improvements in motor competence observed over the 18-month period underscore the critical nature of early childhood for motor skill acquisition. Additionally, the study highlights the importance of frequent monitoring (e.g., every 6 months) to identify children with motor delays and facilitate timely interventions.