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Motor Competence Levels and Developmental Delay in Early Childhood: A Multicenter Cross-Sectional Study Conducted in the USA

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Abstract

Background and Objectives

Developmental delay in motor competence may limit a child’s ability to successfully participate in structured and informal learning/social opportunities that are critical to holistic development. Current motor competence levels in the USA are relatively unknown. The purposes of this study were to explore motor competence levels of US children aged 3–6 years, report percentages of children demonstrating developmental delay, and investigate both within and across childcare site predictors of motor competence, including sex, race, geographic region, socioeconomic status, and body mass index percentile classification. Potential implications from results could lead to a greater awareness of the number of children with developmental delay, the impetus for evidence-based interventions, and the creation of consistent qualification standards for all children so that those who need services are not missed.

Methods

Participants included children (N = 580, 296 girls) aged 3–6 years (Mage = 4.97, standard deviation = 0.75) from a multi-state sample. Motor competence was assessed using the Test of Gross Motor Development, Second Edition and the 25th and 5th percentiles were identified as developmental delay-related cutoffs.

Results

For both Test of Gross Motor Development, Second Edition subscales, approximately 77% of the entire sample qualified as at risk for developmental delay (≤ 25th percentile), while 30%  of the entire sample were at or below 5th percentile. All groups (e.g., sex, race, socioeconomic status) were prone to developmental delay. Raw object control scores differed by sex.

Conclusions

Developmental delay in motor competence is an emerging epidemic that needs to be systematically acknowledged and addressed in the USA. By shifting norms based upon current data, there may be a lower standard of “typical development” that may have profound effects on factors that support long-term health.

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  • 23 July 2019

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Author notes

  1. Ali Brian and Adam Pennell are co-lead authors.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physical Education, University of South Carolina, 1300 Wheat St, Columbia, SC, 29208, USA

    Ali Brian, Sally Taunton & David Stodden

  2. Natural Science Division, Pepperdine University, Malibu, CA, USA

    Adam Pennell

  3. Child Development Research Center, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA

    Angela Starrett

  4. Department of Kinesiology and Health Promotion, Troy University, Troy, AL, USA

    Candice Howard-Shaughnessy

  5. Department of Human Sciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA

    Jacqueline D. Goodway

  6. School of Kinesiology, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA

    Danielle Wadsworth & Mary Rudisill

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  1. Ali Brian
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Correspondence to Ali Brian.

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No financial support was received for the conduct of this study or preparation of this article.

Conflict of interest

Ali Brian, Adam Pennell, Sally Taunton, Angela Starrett, Candice Howard-Shaughnessy, Jacqueline D. Goodway, Danielle Wadsworth, Mary Rudisill, and David Stodden have no conflicts of interest that are directly relevant to the content of this article.

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The original version of this article was revised: Due to changes in the Abstract

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Brian, A., Pennell, A., Taunton, S. et al. Motor Competence Levels and Developmental Delay in Early Childhood: A Multicenter Cross-Sectional Study Conducted in the USA. Sports Med 49, 1609–1618 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-019-01150-5

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