Fundamental motor skills in 4 to 6 year olds in Switzerland – a comparison between traditional and “physical activity” kindergarden

Abstract

Until now, there have been no studies in Switzerland that investigate differences in the motor performance disposition of children in urban and rural as well as in traditional and physical education kindergartens. A newly developed test instrument (MOBAK-KG) was therefore used in a supra-­cantonal research project in school year 2017/18 to test the motor skills of 4- to 6-year-old children (n = 403, Ø 5,7 years, SD = .56) in the areas of “self-movement” and «object-movement». A total of 26 kindergartens from the city of Zurich and the rural canton of Uri took part in the study, 13 of which were traditional and 13 were physical education kinder­gartens («Purzelbaum» project). The surveys were conducted as part of a regular sports lesson (45 min.). In line with expectations, significantly better values were achieved in both areas of competence for older children, in favour of boys in «object-movement» and in favour of girls in ­«self-movement». In addition, significant differences in performance can be demonstrated depending on the region of residence and between traditional and physical education kindergartens.