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ERIC Number: ED590434
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2016-Oct-12
Pages: 33
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: EISSN-
EISSN: N/A
Relations of Preschoolers' Visual Motor and Object Manipulation Skills with Executive Function and Social Behavior
MacDonald, Megan; Lipscomb, Shannon; McClelland, Megan M.; Duncan, Rob; Becker, Derek; Anderson, Kim; Kile, Molly
Grantee Submission
Purpose: The purpose was to examine specific linkages between early visual-motor integration skills and executive function, as well as between early object manipulation skills and social behaviors in the classroom over the preschool year. Method: 92 children between the ages of 3-5 years old (mean age 4.31 years) were recruited to participate in this study. Comprehensive measures of visual motor integration skills, object manipulation skills, executive function and social behaviors were administered in the fall and spring of the preschool year. Results: Our findings indicated that children who had better visual-motor integration skills in the fall had better executive function scores, (B = 0.47 [0.20], p < 0.05, beta = 0.27) in the spring of the preschool year after controlling for age, gender, Head-Start status, and site location, but not after controlling for children's baseline levels of executive function. In addition, children who demonstrated better object-manipulation skills in the fall showed significantly stronger social behavior in their classrooms (as rated by teachers) in the spring, including more self-control, (B -0.03 [0.00], p < 0.001, beta = 0.40), more cooperation, (B = 0.02 [0.01], p < 0.01, beta = 0.28), and less externalizing/hyperactivity, (B = -0.02 [0.01], p < 0.01, beta = -0.28) after controlling for their social behavior in the fall and other covariates. Conclusion: Children's visual motor integration and object manipulation skills in the fall have modest to moderate relations with executive function and social behaviors later in the preschool year. These findings have implications for early learning initiatives and school readiness. [This paper was published in "Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport" v87 p396-407 2016.]
Publication Type: Reports - Research
Education Level: Preschool Education; Early Childhood Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: Institute of Education Sciences (ED); National Institutes of Health (DHHS)
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Oregon
Identifiers - Assessments and Surveys: Peabody Developmental Motor Scales
IES Funded: Yes
Grant or Contract Numbers: R305B120013; P30ES000210