Motor Development in Children: A Narrative Review of Theoretical Foundations, Determinants, and Implications for Sports Education
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.29407/nwr4np32Keywords:
motor development, , fundamental motor skills, , physical education, , constraints-based approach,, childrenAbstract
Motor development, the age-related change in movement behavior, underpins children’s participation in play, physical activity, and learning. This narrative review synthesizes the theoretical foundations, determinants, assessment, and pedagogical implications of childhood motor development for sports education. Seminal works and key systematic reviews were purposively selected and analyzed thematically. Explanations have shifted from maturational accounts toward dynamic-systems and constraints-based perspectives, in which movement emerges from interacting organism, environment, and task factors. Fundamental motor skills are consistently associated with physical activity, fitness, weight status, and perceived competence, although much of the evidence is correlational, and structured interventions are effective. Implications include developmentally appropriate task design, ample practice, a mastery-oriented climate, process-based assessment, and culturally familiar traditional games. Empirical research in Indonesian schools is needed to test these propositions.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Hilmy Aliriad, Hasan Saifuddin, Nurman Ramadhan, Wahyu Setya Kuscayaning Putri, Achmad Nurilfaza (Author)
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