Bi-directional associations between fundamental motor skills, physical fitness, and physical activity in preschool children

Background: Evidence regarding associations between physical activity (PA), fundamental motor skills (FMS), and physical fitness (FIT) in younger children is scarce and result are mixed.

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate bidirectional associations between intensity-specific PA with FMS and FIT in 3–4-year-old preschool children.

Methods: We included 821 children (3.8 yr, 53.5% boys) from the Active Learning Norwegian Preschool(er)s (ACTNOW) study who were measured at baseline and 18 months later. PA was measured with ActiGraph GT3X+ accelerometers, FMS were evaluated using 9 skills used as indicators of locomotor skills, object control skills, and balance skills, and FIT was measured through upper- and lower-body muscular strength (handgrip and standing long jump) and motor fitness (4×10 shuttle-run test). Structural equation modeling with latent growth models adjusted for covariates was used to investigate the bi-directional associations for PA with FMS and FIT.

Results: All PA intensities positively predicted future locomotor skills (p=≤0.001-0.019) and motor fitness (p=≤0.001-0.007). All intensities except light PA (LPA) positively predicted object control skills (p=0.001-0.033), handgrip strength (p=0.007-0.033), and standing long jump (p=≤0.001). Moderate PA (MPA) and moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) positively predicted balance skills (p=0.001-0.010). SED negatively predicted locomotor skills, object control skills, and all fitness measures (p=≤0.001-0.034). For the opposite pathway, locomotor skills positively predicted total PA (TPA), vigorous PA (VPA), and MVPA (p=0.013-0.046), and negatively predicted SED (p=0.032). Motor fitness positively predicted TPA and VPA (p=0.003-0.018).

Conclusion: Our findings suggest that promoting locomotor skills and motor fitness in preschool children is beneficial for future participation in high-intensity PA. Furthermore, promoting MVPA in early childhood can have a positive impact on the development of a broad range of FMS and FIT measures.

Funding: Supported by The Research Council of Norway (grant.nr 287903); County Governor of Sogn og Fjordane; Sparebanken Sogn og Fjordane Foundation; Western Norway University of Applied Sciences.