Early childhood development practitioners’ awareness of the age acquisition of key motor milestones and physical activity requirements for children birth to four years
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Date
2021-11
Authors
Gibson, Vanessa
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
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Publisher
University of the Free State
Abstract
Introduction: Physical activity and motor milestones aquisition are foundational aspects of early childhood development (ECD). Attaining motor milestones enables children to gain independent movement to explore, participate and learn from their environment. Physical activity influences health-related factors and helps the development of motor skills. ECD practitioners play a critical role in moulding children’s early learning outcomes. However, ECD practitioners’ knowledge and awareness regarding motor milestone acquisition and children’s physical activity levels, are not fully known. Considering the effects early childhood stimulation have on children’s academic and physical development, it is paramount to establish ECD practitioners’ awareness of, and contribution to, these aspects. Aim: The aim of the study was to investigate ECD practitioners in Vanderbijlpark, South Africa's knowledge, awareness and contributions to gross motor skill development and physical activity of children from birth to four years. The aim contained three objectives. Firstly, to determine ECD practitioners’ contribution to the acquisition of gross motor milestones and achieving adequate levels of physical activity in children from birth to four years old. Secondly, to describe the population of ECD practitioners in Vanderbijlpark, South Africa. Thirdly, to determine ECD practitioners’ awareness of the age at which children acquire key gross motor milestones and recommended levels of physical activity of children from birth to four years old, in Vanderbijlpark, South Africa. Methodology: To achieve the first objective of the study a scoping review was done. The PRISMA-ScR: Checklist and Explanation was followed, and a search of 10 electronic databases for published work from 1994 to 26 May 2021 was conducted. Articles were grouped and charted by themes relevant to physical activity interventions presented by ECD practitioners, as well as the relationship between ECD practitioners’ physical activity and children’s physical activity levels To attain the second and third objectives, a descriptive cross-sectional study was undertaken. Fifty ECD practitioners from nine ECDCs in Vanderbijlpark, South Africa, completed a self-developed questionnaire regarding key gross motor milestones acquisition and recommended levels of physical activity for children from birth to four years old. Quantitative variables were summarised using descriptive statistics, and frequencies and percentages were used to summarise categorical data. Associations were evaluated using the Fisher’s exact test, Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel (correlation) chi-square test, nonparametric Wilcoxon two-sample test, and ANOVA. Results: Fifty-four publications were included in the scoping review. Physical activity interventions presented by ECD practitioners mainly yielded positive results, while no studies investigating ECD practitioners’ contribution to the acquisition of gross motor milestones in children birth to four years were found. Descriptive results revealed that ECD practitioners in Vanderbijlpark failed to display adequate awareness regarding key gross motor milestone acquisition and required physical activity levels, as set out by the movement guidelines for young children. Results indicate that most participants have not been adequately trained and had limited tertiary or specialised education. Practitioners’ awareness of key gross motor milestone acquisition was also better in relation to milestones achieved during a child’s first year of life, than for milestones achieved later on. Conclusion: Physical activity interventions presented by ECD practitioners have a positive influence on children’s overall physical activity, especially when sufficient training is provided to ECD practitioners. Furthermore, ECD practitioners’ physical activity positively correlates with children’s physical activity. Limited studies have investigated ECD practitioners’ contribution to the acquisition of gross motor milestones in children from birth to four years, which means there is a literature gap warranting further research. Practically, additional training is required to improve the awareness of ECD practitioners in Vanderbijlpark, South Africa, regarding the acquisition of key gross motor milestones and recommended physical activity levels for the children they are interacting with daily.
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Keywords
Dissertation (M.A. (Human Movement Sciences))--University of the Free State, 2021, Awareness, Early childhood development, Early childhood development practitioner, Early childhood development centre, Knowledge, Gross motor milestones, Physical activity