Expressive movement and the perceptual-motor development of young children from disadvantaged communities

Date
1998
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of participation in an expressive movement programme on the gross motor co-ordination, visual-motor integration and the self-concept of 117 pre-school children from a diadvantaged community. In order to maximise the accuracy of the result, a time series design was followed. Participants were divided into two experimental groups. All participants were pre-tested, then one group received the 7 week expressive movement programme while the second group received no treatment. All participants were then post-tested, followed by another 7 week intervention programme given to the second group, while the first group received no further intervention. All participants were then post-tested again. Data collection for all three dependent variables was completed using the Charlop-Atwell Scale of Gross Motor Co-ordination, the Beery Developmental Test of Visual-motor Integration, and the Primary and Pre-School Self-Concept scale. Result of this study revealed that the pre-school children realised the following outcomes of participation in an expressive movement programme: • Significant enhancement of gross motor co-ordination • Improvement in visual-motor integration a reflected in the drawing ability of the children •Significant enhancement of self-concept Based on these results, it was concluded that participation in expressive movement programmes can make a significant contribution to the development of pre-school children, and therefore should be integrated as a formal content area within their curriculum.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel van hierdie studie was om die invloed van deelname aan 'n ekspresiewe bewegingsprogram op die grootmotoriese koördinasie, visueel-motoriese integrasie en selfkonsep van 117 pre-primêre kinders vanuit 'n minderbevoorregte gemeenskap te ondersoek ten einde die akkuraatheid van die resultate te optimaliseer, is 'n opeenvolgende tydsgebonde eksperimentele ontwerp (a time series design) gevolg. Die deelnemers is in twee eksperimentele groepe verdeel. Alle deelnemers het 'n pre-toets ontvang waarna die een groep aan 'n 7 weeklange ekspressiewe bewegingsprogram deelgeneem het, terwyl die ander groep geen intervensie ontvang het nie. Alie deelnemers het toe 'n post-toets ondergaan, waarna die tweede groep onderwerp is aan 'n 7 weeklange intervensieprogram, terwyl die eerste groep aan geen verdere behandeling blootgestel is nie. Hierna is alle deelnemers weer aan 'n post-toets onderwerp. Dataversameling vir al drie afhanklike veranderlikes is voltooi deur die gebruik van die Charlop-Atwell Skaal vir Grootmotoriese Koördinasie, die Beery Ontwikkelingstoets vir Visueel-Motoriese Integrasie en die Primêre-en Pre-primêre Selfkonsepskaal. Resultate van hierdie studie het aangetoon dat die voorskoolse kinders die volgende uitkomste met betrekking tot deelname aan die ekspressiewe bewegingsprogram, behaal het: • Betekenisvolle verbetering van grootmotoriese koördinasie • Verbetering van visueel-motoriese integrasie soos gereflekteer deur die rekenvermoëns van die kinders. • Betekenisvolle verbetering van selfkonsep. Gebaseer op hierdie resultate, is daar tot die gevolgtrekking gekom dat deelname aan 'n ekspressiewe bewegingsprogram 'n betekenisvolle bydrae kan lewer tot die ontwikkeling van voorskoolse kinders en as sulks geïntegreer moet word as 'n formele leerarea in hul kurrikulum.
Description
Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Stellenbosch, 1998.
Keywords
Movement education, Perceptual-motor learning, Movement education -- Study and teaching (Preschool), Motor ability in children, Children with social disabilities -- Education (Preschool), Dissertations -- Human movement studies, UCTD
Citation