It’s time to ditch the screens.
A new study has found that children who spend more time outdoors or engage in various sports tend to develop stronger motor skills as they progress through elementary school. Even just 30 minutes of independent outdoor play after attending childcare can positively influence motor development, according to the findings published in the Journal of Sports Sciences.
The research also showed that children who participate in multiple sports tend to perform better in motor skill development. “Participating in two or more sports during early childhood was linked to better motor competence later in school,” explained Nanne-Mari Luukkainen, the lead researcher from the University of Jyväskylä in Finland.
For the study, researchers followed over 600 Finnish children between the ages of 3 and 8, tracking their motor skills development over three years as they advanced through grades 1 to 3. Children who engaged in multiple sports demonstrated enhanced abilities in walking, running, hand-eye coordination, and tasks like catching and throwing. They also showed improved overall movement skills.
Additionally, children who spent more time playing outdoors showed better basic movement skills and excelled in activities such as sideways jumping. The positive effects were found to be stronger in girls than in boys, possibly due to boys typically being more active overall.
These findings align with earlier research indicating that outdoor play and participation in a variety of physical activities play a crucial role in children’s motor development. The researchers emphasize that both structured and unstructured physical activities should be encouraged by coaches and educators for the holistic development of children.
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