Abstract
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Purpose: The early years of life are critical for motor and cognitive
development. More research is needed to better understand the associations
between the control and development of motor and cognitive tasks. This
study aimed to examine the association between gross motor skill development
and cognitive development in children aged 11 to 29months.Methods:
This cross-sectional study involved 335 toddlers (aged 19.80 ± 4.08 months,
53.7%boys) recruited from30 Early Childhood Education andCare services
in NSW, Australia. Gross motor skills were assessed using the Peabody
Developmental Motor Scales 2nd Edition (PDMS-2). The gross motor
quotient (GMQ) and subtest standard scores were used for analyses.
Cognitive development was assessed using the Bayley Scales of Infant and
Toddler development – 3rd edition (Bayley-III). The standard scorewas used
in the analyses. A one-way ANCOVA was conducted to assess associations
between gross motor skills and cognition controlling for childcare center,
sex, age, body mass index and socioeconomic status. Results: The average
standard score for cognitive development was 11.45 ± 3.03. For gross
motor skills, the average GMQ score was 96.41 ± 9.84. There was a
significant effect of gross motor skills on cognition, F(2, 260) = 12.245,
p < 0.001. Both locomotion and object manipulation had a significant effect
on cognition, F(2, 266) = 14.607, p < 0.001 and, F(2, 265)=9.039, p < 0.001
respectively. Conclusions:Grossmotor skills and cognition are associated in
this sample of toddlers. Results reinforce the need for early commencement
of gross motor skill promotion as this might be important for cognitive
development in the early years.