THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN GROSS MOTOR SKILL LEVEL AND RESOURCE AVAILABILITY AMONG PRESCHOOL CHILDREN IN NORTH WESTERN PROVINCE

Abstract

Fundamental Movement Skills (FMS) are the building blocks for movement and they form the foundation for many of the specific motor skills required in popular sports and leisure activities. This study was to identify the relationship between Gross Motor Skill (GMS) Level and Resources Availability (RA) among preschool children in North Western Province. (NWP). Two different type of Preschools in NWP, Rural and urban were selected. GMS were assessed using the Test of Gross Motor Development (TGMD-II). Locomotor (run, gallop, hop, leap, horizontal jump, and slide), Object control (striking a stationary ball, stationary dribble, catch, kick, overhead throw and underhand roll) and RA data gathered in each preschools. RA questionnaire including equipment and all resource requirements for physical activities. Totally out of 2159 preschools located in NWP, 6 urban preschools and 60 students, 6 Rural Preschools and 60 students then total sample was 120 (n = 120). Data were analysed by using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, factor analysis and independent T sample test. Gathered data were analyzed using SPSS (V21) software and Microsoft office 2013 software. The results show main objective, Pearson correlation coefficient is 0.799 and P-value 0.002 (P-value < 0.05). Further this relationship is very strong. Correlation coefficient is greater than 0.6 or closer to 1. In this study lack of resources availability highest at 10th pre-school which is located in rural area and 1st pre-school which is located in urban area has peak of resources availability was observed with 7 (3%) and 34 (14%) out of 72 resources respectively. Resources availability area wise, urban areas has more resources than rural areas. The GMS ability in both male and female in this study is not significance of Gender (p-value 0.496) and it does not impact (p-value 0.496¿0.05). Finally, residence and GMS levels are significant (p-value 0.001). According to the above result GMS levels and RA has strong and positive relationship without an impact of gender.