Background/Purpose Learning Fundamental Motor Skills (FMS) at an early age is the “building block” or the foundation for more complex movement and specialized skills required by children throughout their lives. This study examined FMS developmental level of 4th grade children in Iraq.
Method Participants were from two elementary schools in the Talkeef suburb of Mosul, Iraq. There were 64 school children, 23 girls mean age (M=9.9, SD= 0.3) and 41 boys mean age (M=10, SD=0.3). Motor skills were assessed using the TGMD-2. Participants were tested on locomotor skills and object control skills.
Analysis/Results Data was analyzed using the TGMD-2 norms. Results from the study showed that participants performed significantly below age level norms of TGMD-2 in both locomotor and object control skills. Based on the gross motor quotient, girls scorced very poor (<70) and boys scored below average (80-89). The age equivalent scores compared with the actual age showed that girls were between 5 and 6 years behind their actual age (M= 9.9) and boys were between 6 and 7 years behind their actual age (M= 10).
Conclusions These results suggest that there is need for increased focus on teaching FMS in physical education in Talkeef schools at an early age. The significant differences between age equivalents and actual ages may be due to the typical design of Iraqi schools and a deficiency in the designated times for physical educations in schools.