The aim of this paper is to look at the relationship between morphological characteristics and motor abilities as a predisposition of students to play sports. On a sample of 58 students aged 9 ...(±0.5), a set of two variables was applied to define the morphological space (body height and body mass), and a set of three variables to assess the motor space of explosive power and motor speed (standing long jump, shuttle running 10 x 5 m, and hand tapping). The explanation of individual differences (variability) on the criterion variable based on a linear combination of a set of predictor variables was performed using a multiple linear regression. It has been established that better results on the long jump motor test are achieved by those students who achieved better results on the 10 x 5 m shuttle running test and who have a lower body mass. In addition, it can be concluded that better results in the motor test of shuttle running 10 x 5 m are achieved by those students who have a lower body mass and better results on the standing long jump and hand tapping tests. When it comes to the results in the hand tapping motor test, it can be stated that students who have a lower body height and a better/ faster result in the shuttle running 10 x 5 m will achieve better results. Accordingly, in physical and health education classes, special attention should be paid to the development of explosive strength and motor speed as particularly important motor abilities in the identification and selection of children and young people for sports.
Difficulties in sensory processing can be a risk for the development of language, speech, as well as cognitive and motor abilities in children. The aim of the research was to investigate the ...relationship between the sensory and psychomotor abilities of children with developmental dysphasia and the socio-demographic characteristics of their primary families. The consequences of different developmental difficulties affect not only the child, but the parents as well. Gender, education, number of children, and birth order are some of the characteristics which can be significant for diagnozing and treatment of the developmental difficulties caused by the developmental dysphasia. The sample consisted of 47 parents of preschool children with developmental dysphasia diagnose, which were included in logopedic treatment. The Modified Sensory Profile and the questionnaire about socio-demografic characteristics of the family were used in the research. The data were processed by descriptive statistics, t test for independent samples, and ANOVA. The results showed that there were statistically significant differences on the psychomotor dimensions of sensory processing relative to the educational level of parents, but also the order of birth and the number of children. The data indicate that there is a great need for a wider spectrum of opportunities for intervention and support for the parents of children with developmental dysphasia by offering them different training sessions, as well as by including them in the physical activities which focus on the coordination abilities and fine motorics, especially when it comes to the preschool children.
The modern way of life, with its technical and technological advances, is increasingly alienating man from the real primordial value of nature and its laws. Spending time in nature has many positive ...effects in terms of health and hygiene, psycho-social well-being, sports and recreation, and education. The aim of this research was to determine the attitudes of teachers towards summer camps as a form of extra-curricular activities. The research included 62 primary school teachers from four primary schools on the territory of Belgrade. Non-experimental research was the applied method, and a survey designated for this purpose was the research technique. Based on the obtained results, we can conclude that a significant number of the respondents have organized some form of outdoor activity, but only 1% of the respondents have organized camping for their pupils. As many as 87% of teachers view camping as an activity that can greatly influence pupils’ physical and mental development, which is the practical value of this work. The results indicate the need for a systematic, organized stay in the nature as an extracurricular activity.
This survey was conducted to determine how children spend their free time, the frequency of spending time outdoors, as well as the attitudes of children toward outdoor activities and spending several ...days in the nature in the form of camping. By using the method of experimental research, the techniques of theoretical analysis and a specially designed questionnaire, we obtained the results for the analysis and consideration. What is alarming is the fact that even 20% of the children in the lower grades of primary school spend their free time in front of televisions and with computers, while as many as 45% of children rarely spend time in nature. The three most frequently cited reasons for not spending enough time in nature include school obligations, parents’ obligations and the fact that there is no nature in the respondents’ environment. The data indicate the need for an organised, systematic stay in the countryside at weekends in the form of half-day or full-day trips and excursions, as well as multi-day camping trips organised during summer holidays. The willingness of as many as 84.9% of the respondents to spend their free time camping meets one of the most important requirements for a systemic implementation of this programme. The children are aware of the value of spending time in nature and they feel the need and desire to spend their free time outdoors, which reflects the practical significance of this study.
The aim of this paper is to look at the relationship between morphological characteristics and motor abilities as a predisposition of students to play sports. On a sample of 58 students aged 9 ...(±0.5), a set of two variables was applied to define the morphological space (body height and body mass), and a set of three variables to assess the motor space of explosive power and motor speed (standing long jump, shuttle running 10 x 5 m, and hand tapping). The explanation of individual differences (variability) on the criterion variable based on a linear combination of a set of predictor variables was performed using a multiple linear regression. It has been established that better results on the long jump motor test are achieved by those students who achieved better results on the 10 x 5 m shuttle running test and who have a lower body mass. In addition, it can be concluded that better results in the motor test of shuttle running 10 x 5 m are achieved by those students who have a lower body mass and better results on the standing long jump and hand tapping tests. When it comes to the results in the hand tapping motor test, it can be stated that students who have a lower body height and a better/ faster result in the shuttle running 10 x 5 m will achieve better results. Accordingly, in physical and health education classes, special attention should be paid to the development of explosive strength and motor speed as particularly important motor abilities in the identification and selection of children and young people for sports.
The study aimed to comprehensively investigate associations between anthropometric features and motor abilities in young school-age children. The sample included 285 students (140 boys and 145 girls, ...aged 10.44 ± 0.33 years). Sex differences in the anthropometric and motor variables were determined by an independent t-test, while multiple linear regression was used to examine whether anthropometric characteristics could predict motor test scores. Girls were significantly taller, with greater sitting height, leg and arm length, as well as hip width. Also, greater body mass and skinfold thickness, as well as better scores on flexibility tests were observed in girls compared to boys (t=1.384-3.290, p<0.05). Conversely, boys demonstrated better scores on tests to evaluate coordination, agility, aerobic endurance, and strength. Except for movement frequency and flexibility, all motor items showed small-to-large correlations with anthropometric measures. Skinfold thickness, body mass index, arm girth, together with leg length and wrist diameter, explained 44% of the explosive strength variance, while 32% of aerobic endurance was explained by leg girth, BMI, and skinfold thickness. These results indicate that anthropometric measures have a significant influence on several motor abilities, especially explosive strength and aerobic endurance, while the role of anthropometry on flexibility, frequency of movement, and coordination seem to be negligible.
Background: The primary goal of this study was to investigate the relationship between body composition and motor coordination performance, and the secondary goal was to determine sex differences in ...body composition and motor coordination of preschool children. Methods: Forty-eight children (23 boys and 25 girls) underwent assessments for body composition and motor coordination using the Köperkoordinationstest für Kinder (KTK). Results: Linear regression analysis revealed significant associations between body composition and motor coordination in boys (p < 0.05) but not in girls. In boys, Body height (p = 0.01), Total muscle mass (p = 0.03), Total fat (p = 0.03), and Total water (p = 0.02) show statistically significant influence on single-leg jumps. Similar results were obtained for lateral jumps where there was a statistically significant influence of Body height (p = 0.01), Total muscle mass (p = 0.03), and Total water (p = 0.02). Interestingly, predictive variables showed no statistically significant influence on KTK overall score in boys (p = 0.42) nor in girls (p = 0.90). Conclusions: The predictive system of morphological variables demonstrated significance only among boys in this age group and sample. Girls outperformed boys due to early maturation, resulting in better average KTK scores.
Difficulties in sensory processing can be a risk for the development of language, speech, as well as cognitive and motor abilities in children. The aim of the research was to investigate the ...relationship between the sensory and psychomotor abilities of children with developmental dysphasia and the socio-demographic characteristics of their primary families. The consequences of different developmental difficulties affect not only the child, but the parents as well. Gender, education, number of children, and birth order are some of the characteristics which can be significant for diagnozing and treatment of the developmental difficulties caused by developmental dysphasia. The sample consisted of 47 parents of preschool children with developmental dysphasia diagnose, which were included in logopedic treatment. The Modified Sensory Profile and the questionnaire about socio-demographic characteristics of the family were used in the research. The data were processed by descriptive statistics, t-test for independent samples, and ANOVA. The results showed that there were statistically significant differences on the psychomotor dimensions of sensory processing relative to the educational level of parents, but also the order of birth and the number of children. The data indicate that there is a great need for a wider spectrum of opportunities for intervention and support for the parents of children with developmental dysphasia by offering them different training sessions, as well as by including them in the physical activities which focus on the coordination abilities and fine motorics, especially when it comes to the preschool children.