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Can we improve children's motor skills in preschool?

Effectiveness of a structured intervention for improving Motor skills in Danish PreSchool children: a randomised controlled trial

Status
Recruiting
Phases
Unknown
Study type
Interventional
Source
ISRCTN
Registry ID
ISRCTN23701994
Enrollment
800
Registered
2016-10-13
Start date
2016-08-01
Completion date
Unknown
Last updated
2025-10-20

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Motor skills Musculoskeletal Diseases Motor skills

Interventions

Participating preschools are randomized, stratified by socioeconomic background (family-type (single parent, both parents etc.) and household income of the up-take area) to one of two groups Interven
fine motor challenges such as holding a pencil, handling small objects like beads and construction toys or catching insects
coordination exercises such as crawling exercises, cross-body movements, "Angels in the Snow", jumping jack and throwing, gripping and kicking exercises
and different dynamic and static balance exercises such as walking on a line and standing on one leg. 2. Sensing: The vestibular sense is stimulated for example by rolling, turning around, doing somer

Sponsors

University of Southern Denmark
Lead Sponsor

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
All

Inclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria: All children attending kindergarten in the municipality of Svendborg, Denmark

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion criteria: Does not meet inclusion criteria

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frame
Gross and fine motor skills are measured using Movement Assessment Battery for Children (shuttle-run, 20m fast run and one-leg stance) at baseline, 6, 18 and 30 months

Secondary

MeasureTime frame
1. Perceived motor competence is measured using the Pictorial Scale of Perceived Competence and Social Acceptance for Young Children at age six (last test before leaving pre-school) 2. Musculoskeletal disorder rate is measured through parent interviews via SMS every two weeks from baseline until study end. Additionally, ICD-10 diagnoses of persistent complaints (four weeks or more) will be made at an orthopaedic department as they occur throughout the study period 3. Physical activity is measured using axivity AX3 accelerometers (http://axivity.com/produdts/ax3) for six days at baseline, 6 months, 18 months and 30 months 4. General well-being is measured using the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire, filled in electronically by both parents and teachers every six months from baseline 5. Language development is measured using Language assessment 3-6 which is administered by the preschool teachers at baseline and at school-start. The assessment battery consists of measures within two domains of language, i.e. oral language (Vocabulary, Comprehension, Communication strategies) and pre-literacy measures (Rhyme detection, Print awareness, Deletion and Letter identification) 6. Executive function is measured using three elements from Preschool Self-Regulation Assessment (balance beam, pencil tap and snack delay) at baseline, 6, 18 and 30 months

Countries

Denmark

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ISRCTN (via WHO ICTRP) · Data processed: Mar 9, 2026