Motor-life-skills of toddlers: a comparative study of Norwegian and British boys and girls applying the Early Years Movement Skills Checklist

The purpose of this study is to examine whether there are differences in the motor-life skills of boys and girls at ECEC institutions. Children use their motor-life skills to carry out everyday tasks, such as getting dressed, washing their hands, cutting with scissors and playing with a ball in the playground.

The results show significant differences in the total EYMSC score for boys and girls. The girls generally have better motor skills than the boys in connection with everyday tasks measured by the EYMSC.

The study shows that girls fare significantly better within three out of four motor categories measured by the EYMSC: self-help skills, desk skills and general classroom skills. Self-help skills mean that the children can get dressed, wash their hands and handle food and drinks. Desk skills involve the children's fine motor skills at a desk, such as handling scissors and glue and folding a piece of paper. General classroom skills include sitting correctly and calmly on a chair, walking around without bumping into other children and following instructions from an adult. The study shows that both genders cope equally well with regard to recreational/playground skills involving the children's motor skills in outdoor playgrounds, such as ball skills and climbing, jumping, running and balancing.

Learning Child (Stavangerprosjektet – Det lærende barnet). The motor-life skills were measured for 1083 children aged 30-33 months (527 girls and 556 boys). Two familiar adults observed each child independently using the Early Years Movement Skills Checklist (EYMSC). The aim was to observe the child in its everyday setting without disturbing the child. According to the authors, the EYMSC measures children's motor skills in their familiar environment with familiar adults, and it shows the children's motor-life-skills in the ECEC setting.

Moser, T., & Reikerås, E. (2016). Motor-life-skills of toddlers: a comparative study of Norwegian and British boys and girls applying the Early Years Movement Skills Checklist. European Early Childhood Education Research Journal 24, 115-135.