@article{ref1,
title="Associations between gross motor skills and cognitive development in toddlers",
journal="Early human development",
year="2019",
author="Veldman, Sanne L. C. and Santos, Rute and Jones, Rachel A. and Sousa-Sá, Eduarda and Okely, Anthony D.",
volume="132",
number="",
pages="39-44",
abstract="BACKGROUND: The early years of life are critical for motor and cognitive development. A better understanding is needed on the associations between the control and development of motor and cognitive tasks. <br><br>AIM: This study aimed to examine the association between gross motor skills and cognitive development in toddlers. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SUBJECTS: This study included 335 toddlers (aged 19.80 ± 4.08 months, 53.7% boys) from 30 childcare services in Australia. OUTCOME MEASURES: Children were assessed on gross motor skills (Peabody Developmental Motor Scales 2nd Edition; PDMS-2) and cognitive development (Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler development 3rd edition; Bayley-III). DATA ANALYSIS: A one-way ANCOVA was conducted to assess associations between gross motor skills and cognitive development controlling for childcare center, sex, age, body mass index and socioeconomic status. <br><br>RESULTS: The average scores were 96.41 ± 9.84 for gross motor skills (range gross motor quotient 35-165) and 11.45 ± 3.03 for cognitive development (range standard score 1-19). There was a significant positive association between gross motor skills and cognition, F<sub>(2,260)</sub> = 12.245, p < 0.001. Both locomotion and object manipulation were significantly positively associated with cognition, F<sub>(2,266)</sub> = 14.607, p < 0.001 and F<sub>(2,265)</sub> = 9.039, p < 0.001 respectively. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Levels of gross motor skills are positively associated with cognitive development in this sample of Australian toddlers. <br><br>RESULTS reinforce the need for early commencement of gross motor skill promotion as this might be important for cognitive development in the early years.<br><br>Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0378-3782",
doi="10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2019.04.005",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2019.04.005"
}