Scheduled for Motor Behavior and Measurement Posters, Friday, April 2, 2004, 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM, Convention Center: Exhibit Hall Poster Session


Identifying the Gross Motor Development Levels of 0–3 -Year-Old Children Via Small Steps Early Intervention Program

Mehmet Yanardag1, Bunyamin Birkan2, Ilker Yilmaz2 and Ferman Konukman3, (1)Adult Mentally Retarded Women Care & Rehabilitation Center, Eskisehir, Turkey, (2)Anadolu University, Eskisehir, Turkey, (3)Abant Izzet Baysal University, Bolu, Turkey

Every child can get benefits from the activities that promote development of gross motor skills. Early education programs determine developmental problems of children with developmental delays and provide feedback to families. Early education programs are systematic implications that provide assessment and evaluation to progress from one educational program to other for children (Birkan, 2002). Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the effects of an early movement program on gross motor development of 0-3 years old children who don’t have any disability. Small Steps early education program was used as an intervention. This program was developed in Australia to promote early childhood period of children with developmental delays and contains six books. Small Steps program aims to teach language, communication, gross motor skills (balance, walking, running, climbing stairs, ball skills, cycling, and jumping), and fine motor skills (Pieterse & Treolar, 1989). Participants were 60 children, ages 0-3 years. Data were collected during 6 months period, two times a week, an hour per session. The results of the study were analyzed via graphic illustrations and gross motor development of children compared to their developmental ages. Results indicated that Small Steps early education program was effective on gross motor development of children. In addition, children demonstrated age appropriate gross motor development compared to their age in the early education program criteria. Consequently, this study supports the notion that all children should encourage to participate early education programs.
Keyword(s): adapted physical activity, early childhood, play

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