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Children
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Motor Development in Children and Adolescence
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Motor Development in Children and Adolescence

A special issue of Children (ISSN 2227-9067). This special issue belongs to the section "Global Pediatric Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 10 March 2025 | Viewed by 4171

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Gabriela Almeida

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Guest Editor
Comprehensive Health Research Centre (CHRC), Department of Sport and Health, School of Health and Human Development, University of Évora, 7004-516 Évora, Portugal
Interests: child motor development; perception of motor and social competence; psychomotor intervention; assessment and intervention of motor, cognitive, social and emotional development; in typical and atypical development
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. José Francisco Filipe Marmeleira

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Guest Editor
Comprehensive Health Research Center (CHRC), Department of Sport and Health, School of Health and Human Development, University of Évora, 7004-516 Évora, Portugal
Interests: physical exercise; motor fitness; ageing; adapted physical activity; embodiment
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Carlos Luz

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Guest Editor
Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal and Research Center in Sports Performance, Recreation, Innovation and Technology (SPRINT), 4960-320 Melgaço, Portugal
Interests: motor competence; health-related fitness; obesity; physical fitness and sports
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Motor development encompasses the continuous development of movement abilities resulting from the dynamic interplay between biological processes and the environmental context. Newborn infants demonstrate spontaneous and reflexive movements, and as they progress towards becoming toddlers, they start to acquire fundamental movement skills (locomotive and manual skills). The motor skills children acquire during early childhood gradually become more refined and adapted to a variety of context, such as recreational and sport activities. These skills establish the foundation for efficient and more complex movement in adolescence and later phases of development.

The study of motor development explores developmental changes in movement as well as the several factors underlying those changes. Studying child and adolescent motor development through a variety of research designs enables researchers to gain valuable insights. Through research into motor development, researchers can better understand the capabilities of children and adolescents to guide their development and improve their health (health-related physical fitness and health-related behavior) and performance.

The present Special Issue, "Motor Development in Childhood and Adolescence”, aims to explore developmental changes in motor development and factors underlying these changes.

For this Special Issue, we invite the submission of original research articles and reviews that pertain to motor development in childhood and adolescence.

Submissions may encompass a wide range of topics including, but not limited to, the following:

  • Optimal motor practices;
  • Factors influencing motor development;
  • Developmental changes across childhood and adolescence;
  • The impact of motor development on physical and mental health.

Please consider contributing your research to this Special Issue, as it will contribute to the advancement of our understanding of motor development in children and adolescents, developing typical and atypically, in various contexts.

Dr. Gabriela Almeida
Dr. José Francisco Filipe Marmeleira
Dr. Carlos Luz
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Children is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • physical literacy
  • physical activity
  • sport participation
  • neurodevelopmental disabilities
  • affordances

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  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue polices can be found here.

Published Papers (3 papers)

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9 pages, 764 KiB  
Article
Motor Competence in Autistic Children with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
by Jadiane Dionisio, Cristina dos Santos Cardoso de Sá, Susana Lúcio, Gabriela Neves de Almeida and Rita Cordovil
Children 2024, 11(12), 1518; https://doi.org/10.3390/children11121518 - 14 Dec 2024
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Abstract
Background/Objectives: Children with autism exhibit deficits in fundamental motor skills, which are intensified when associated with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Objective: To correlate motor competence in children with autism, autism levels according to the CARS scale, and the association with ADHD. Methods: This cross-sectional [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Children with autism exhibit deficits in fundamental motor skills, which are intensified when associated with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Objective: To correlate motor competence in children with autism, autism levels according to the CARS scale, and the association with ADHD. Methods: This cross-sectional study assessed motor competence using the Motor Competence Assessment (MCA), the severity of Autism Spectrum Disorder by Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS), and the presence of clinical signs for ADHD using Swanson, Nolan, and Pelham (SNAP-IV) questionnaire. A total of 68 children were recruited; however, 23 were not included due to non-acceptance and/or were excluded because of associated pathologies, high autism severity. Consequently, 45 children (11 with ADHD) between the ages of 5 and 11 (Mean: 8.15; ±1.75) with 83.72% being male. Results: Multiple linear regression revealed a significant inverse correlation between MCA scores and raw CARS data (p = 0.01), indicating that greater autism severity is associated with lower motor competence. The correlation was also observed in CARS classifications, with higher autism severity corresponding to lower motor percentiles (p = 0.05). However, the correlation between the presence of ADHD and motor competence in children with ASD did not reach significance. Overall, a significant correlation was observed (p = 0.006) when analyzing all variables (CARS scores, SNAP scores, and CARS classification). Conclusion: Therefore, it is believed that children with autism exhibit deficits in functional motor skills, with severity impacting motor competence. The findings underscore the need for systematic motor skill assessments in children with autism, emphasizing the importance of monitoring and intervention in this aspect of their development. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Motor Development in Children and Adolescence)
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11 pages, 269 KiB  
Article
How Does a 12-Week Physical Exercise Program Affect the Motor Proficiency and Cognitive Abilities of Overweight and Normal-Weight Preschool Children?
by Borko Katanic, Aleksandra Aleksic Veljkovic, Radivoje Radakovic, Nenad Stojiljkovic, Mihai Olanescu, Miruna Peris, Adrian Suciu and Danut Popa
Children 2024, 11(4), 479; https://doi.org/10.3390/children11040479 - 17 Apr 2024
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Abstract
The objective of this research was to examine a 12-week exercise program and its impact on the motor proficiency and cognitive abilities of preschool children with overweight and normal weight. The study involved a total of 71 participants who were preschool children enrolled [...] Read more.
The objective of this research was to examine a 12-week exercise program and its impact on the motor proficiency and cognitive abilities of preschool children with overweight and normal weight. The study involved a total of 71 participants who were preschool children enrolled in a longitudinal study. Body mass index (BMI) was determined by measuring body height and weight, and the nutritional status of the children was assessed using the World Health Organization’s (WHO) criteria. Motor proficiency encompasses both motor abilities and motor skills, and the assessment of motor abilities was conducted using subtests from the Bruininks–Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency (BOT-2). These subtests measured fine motor integration, manual dexterity, balance, and bilateral coordination. The evaluation of motor skills involved the utilization of the Test of Gross Motor Development (TGMD-2), which examines both locomotor skills and manipulative skills. Cognitive abilities were assessed using the School Maturity Test (TZS). All participants, regardless of weight status, took part in a 12-week physical exercise program. According to the World Health Organization’s criteria, 52 children (73.2%) were categorized as having a normal weight, while 19 children (26.8%) were classified as overweight. These findings indicate that every fourth child in the study was overweight. Using a statistical analysis called SPANOVA (2 × 2, group × time), differences were observed in three out of eleven variables. Specifically, there were significant differences in two motor skill variables: manipulative skills (p = 0.006) and total movement skills (p = 0.014). Additionally, there was a significant difference in one cognitive ability variable: visual memory (p = 0.010). No significant differences were found in the remaining variables. The findings of this study aimed to contribute to the understanding of the potential benefits of regular exercise on motor and cognitive development in preschool children, specifically examining the differences between overweight and normal-weight children. By investigating these effects, the study could provide valuable insights for educators, parents, and health professionals involved in promoting the overall well-being of preschool-aged children. Regular physical exercise has been found to have positive effects on motor and cognitive abilities in both overweight and normal-weight preschool children. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Motor Development in Children and Adolescence)
14 pages, 725 KiB  
Article
The Effects of Age and Height on Gait Smoothness in Adolescent Athletes
by Lindsay M. Clarke, Resa M. Jones, Shivayogi V. Hiremath, Corinna Franklin, W. Geoffrey Wright and Carole A. Tucker
Children 2024, 11(2), 223; https://doi.org/10.3390/children11020223 - 9 Feb 2024
Viewed by 1494
Abstract
(1) Background: Despite evidence of increased rates of sports injury during the years surrounding peak growth in adolescents, little is known regarding the relationship between adolescent growth and gait stability. The aim of this study was to gain a better understanding of how [...] Read more.
(1) Background: Despite evidence of increased rates of sports injury during the years surrounding peak growth in adolescents, little is known regarding the relationship between adolescent growth and gait stability. The aim of this study was to gain a better understanding of how chronological age and height relate to gait stability in both male and female adolescents. (2) Methods: Participants (N = 67; females: n = 34, ages 8.7–15.9 years; males: n = 33, ages 10.0–16.7 years) completed two trials of treadmill walking at varying speeds: the preferred walking speed and 30% above and below. Trials were separated by a bout of fatiguing exercises. HarmonicRatios of the trunk, calculated from acceleration signals taken during walking, were used to quantify gait stability. Data were separated by sex and relationships between height and chronological age, and HarmonicRatios were assessed using multiple linear regression. (3) Results: Females’ HarmonicRatios improved with chronological age both before and after fatigue. Males’ HarmonicRatios increased with chronological age before fatigue; however, this effect was eliminated post-fatigue. Females’ height was negatively associated with HarmonicRatios post-fatigue. Males’ height was positively associated with HarmonicRatios pre-fatigue. (4) Conclusions: The study findings suggest sex differences in the effects of fatigue on gait stability during adolescence. In both sexes, HarmonicRatios increased with chronological age. These improvements were eliminated for males and altered for females with fatigue. The results of this study indicate the need for the reevaluation of sports progression based on chronological age in adolescents. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Motor Development in Children and Adolescence)
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