Relationship between motor competence and physical activity among children aged 3-6 years at risk for developmental coordination disorder.
Motor skill gaps show up around ages 3-6, but activity levels stay normal—intervene now to prevent later withdrawal.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Kuang et al. (2025) compared preschoolers at risk for developmental coordination disorder with typically developing peers. They used standard motor tests and activity monitors on 3- to 6-year-olds.
The team asked: do motor skill gaps show up before kids actually move less?
What they found
At-risk children scored lower on every motor test. Yet their daily moderate-to-vigorous activity matched that of typical peers.
Only weak links appeared between specific skills and active play time.
How this fits with other research
Green et al. (2011) followed boys with probable DCD from age 7 to 12. Those boys later played less, showing the activity drop happens after the skill gap.
Liang et al. (2026) pooled many studies and found older kids with neurodevelopmental disorders move 13 minutes less each day. YanJie’s preschoolers have not hit that stage yet.
Smits-Engelsman et al. (2023) trained school-age DCD children with active video games. Once deficits are spotted, targeted play can boost balance and agility.
Why it matters
Catch the motor lag early, before the child self-selects out of playground games. Add brief, fun balance or ball-skill drills to your session plan. A five-minute obstacle course today may keep recess participation high next year.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
BACKGROUND: To date, it remains unclear whether young children at risk for developmental coordination disorder (DCD) develop deficits in physical activity participation, and the relationship between motor competence (MC) and physical activity (PA) in these children. AIM: To evaluate the levels of MC and PA in young children at risk for DCD (rDCD) and to explore the relationship between these two aspects. METHODS AND PROCEDURES: A total of 124 children with rDCD and 124 typically developing (TD) children aged 3-6 years were selected. Each group included 85 boys and 39 girls. MC was evaluated using the Movement Assessment Battery for Children-2 and the Test of Gross Motor Development-third edition. PA was assessed using the Questionnaire of Parents of Physical Activities of Young Children. MC variables were manual dexterity, aiming and catching, balance, and locomotor skills. PA variables were total PA (TPA), moderate to vigorous PA (MVPA) and sedentary behavior (SB). OUTCOMES AND RESULTS: Children with rDCD had significantly lower scores in manual dexterity, aiming and catching, balance, and locomotor skills compared with TD children (P < 0.05). There was no difference in TPA, MVPA and SB between children with rDCD and TD overall (P > 0.05). Balance, aiming and catching, and locomotor skills in children with rDCD were weakly positively correlated with MVPA (r = 0.197-0.347, P < 0.05). Balance, aiming and catching, and locomotor skills in children with rDCD significantly predicted MVPA (β= 0.219-0.342, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Young children at risk for DCD do not yet show deficits in physical activity participation. It is still important to develop motor competence in young children at risk for DCD, as this may help them sustain participation in physical activity and avoid early withdrawal.
Research in developmental disabilities, 2025 · doi:10.1016/j.ridd.2025.104989