EMOKK

Development of basic motor competencies during childhood (EMOKK)

This research project investigates how preschool and primary school children in Switzerland develop basic motor competencies. What individual, scholastic, and out-of-school factors influence motor development in children? Are there differences in the individual language regions regarding motor competencies?

Basic motor competencies like throwing, jumping, and running are key prerequisites for engaging in physical activities and sports. As such, they are anchored in the curricula in all of Switzerland’s language regions as important competencies to be attained in physical education lessons. This research project aims to observe and explain how basic motor competencies of preschool and primary school children in Switzerland develop over the course of several years. In addition to individual and out-of-school factors that influence motor development, scholastic factors are examined—elements which have not yet been the focus of research. In addition, the project explores whether there are cultural differences in childhood motor development. The focus is placed on the following questions:

(1) What basic motor competencies do preschool and primary school children have in the various language regions?
(2) What is the interrelationship between scholastic and out-of-school influences and the development of basic motor competencies?
(3) What is the connection between how children develop motor competencies and their overall learning potential and general competencies?

For the first time, empirical findings will be gained on the connections and interrelationships between subject-specific and general competencies in physical education lessons, thus enabling identification of those scholastic and out-of-school influences that play a role in the acquisition of motor competencies. Educational institutions can use the findings to adapt activities in and outside the classroom and to systematically develop measures to foster physical abilities. In addition, the findings can serve as a point of reference in programs for teacher training and professional development and help to improve the quality of physical education research and teacher education.

The project is supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation; it expands on the research project “Monitoring basic motor competencies in 4- to 8-year-old children in Switzerland”, which gathered cross-sectional data on the motor competencies of preschool children, by continuing this work in a three-year longitudinal study.