GROSS MOTOR SKILLS OF PRIMARY SCHOOL CHILDREN IN TERMS OF GENDER SPECIFICITIES

Zdenek Rechtik
Mgr., Department of Primary and Pre-primary education, Palacky University in Olomouc, CZECH REPUBLIC, zdenek.rechtik@upol.cz

Abstract

Motor skills are currently a very common topic that is being explored globally from different perspectives. From previous researches is known that motor skills are very important for socialization, academic achievement, self-concept and adaptation on school environment etc., therefore physical education should focus on improving in this area and increasing the level of gross motor skills. This paper will introduce the differences in level of gross motor skills between genders in children from Czech Republic. The aim of the paper is to assess gross motor skills of primary aged children in terms of gender specificities. The research group consisted of 200 children from elementary schools at the age 9,87 ± 0,65 years. For the assessment of gross motor skills was used TGMD-2 test battery. There was found a statistically significant difference between boys and girls in the level of gross motor skills (p=0,002). Girls achieved better results than boys. No significant difference in terms of gender was found in locomotor skills. But difference was found between boys and girls in object control skills (p=0,000), where girls performed better than boys. From the results is obvious that teachers in elementary schools should focus on the development of locomotor skills, which are strongly connected with object control skills, etc. Possible solutions are stated within this study, going from school curriculum towards leisure-time activities and family background etc. The issue deserves higher interest from Czech researchers and teachers in a way to improve rather alarming results. The data was obtained within the project GF_PdF_20119_0003.

Keywords: gross motor skills, primary education, children