Influence of familiarization on preschool children's motor tests results

Background: Various field tests can be used to evaluate children's motor skills. Because of the complexity of their motor skills, which at their age are still in a very intensive stage of development, it is inadequate to use the same test protocol as in the adult population, as children receive and process information in a different way. Some evidence showed that familiarization with test protocols is important in children's motor skills evaluation process. Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of familiarization on motor test results for the assessment of motor skills in preschool children population. A controlled research study design was conducted. Methods: The sample included 40 children, 20 boys and 20 girls (age 5.89 ± 0.42 years). Subjects underwent two testing sessions with two weeks between the trials, performed 6 motor skills: leg power, flexibility, abdominal muscles endurance, shoulder muscles endurance, agility, and running speed. Before the second testing session, subjects underwent a period of familiarization with motor tasks in 3 sessions, with 3 trials every 3 days. Results: Significantly better results in the second testing session were observed in countermovement jump (with both fixed and free arms), curl-ups, speed and agility test. The present study indicates that children significantly improved the results in the motor test of explosive strength, muscle endurance, speed and agility, being influenced by familiarization. Conclusions: The results of this study indicate that familiarization with the test procedures prior to testing affect the results of the motor test, and represent an important part of the evaluation of motor skills of preschool children.