Object Control Profiles and Gender Differences in Preschoolers: A 2-Year Latent Transition Analysis

Based on dynamic systems theory, the longitudinal study tracked 120 kindergarten children 2 years to examine the differentiation and transition of object control profiles among preschool children aged 3 to 6. Latent profile analysis (LPA) and latent transition analysis (LTA) were employed to identify development profiles and transitions, as well as to examine gender differences within these profiles. The findings indicated that: (1) Children’s object control abilities were classified into three profiles: low, medium, and high, with the medium profile accounting for the largest proportion at both time points. (2) From T1 to T2, children in low and medium profiles at T1 were more likely transition to the high profile at T2, while those in the high profile at T1 showed a higher probability of transitioning to the medium profile at T2. (3) At T2, significant gender differences emerged, with boys being more likely than girls to belong to the medium profile. These findings provide empirical insights to guide kindergarten educational practices in supporting children’s developmental trajectories.