Perceptual and Socio-Economic Variables, Instruction in Body-Orientation, and Predicted Academic Success in Young Children

Perceptual differences were investigated at the first grade level among Negro and white lower class children and middle class white children; and nursery, kindergarten, and first grade middle class white children. Half of the nursery school children had been given special exercises to enhance bodily awareness. A rod-and-frame test, the Frostig test, and the Metropolitan Achievement test were the criterion measures. Lower class children were less effective; race was not a significant factor; special exercises were beneficial; and perceptual performance was more highly correlated with predicted academic success for girls.