A Parent-Led Gamified Stability Skills Intervention Enhances Stability Skill But Not General Motor Competence in Children Aged 4–5 Years

Duncan, MJ ORCID: 0000-0002-2016-6580, Fitton-Davies, K ORCID: 0000-0002-1853-9667, Clarke, S, Africa, E, Crotti, M and Martins, R ORCID: 0000-0003-1391-7179 (2025) A Parent-Led Gamified Stability Skills Intervention Enhances Stability Skill But Not General Motor Competence in Children Aged 4–5 Years. Journal of Motor Learning and Development. pp. 1-22. ISSN 2325-3193

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Abstract

This study examined the effect of a parent-led, gamified stability skills intervention on stability skill and motor competence in 4–5 year olds. Eighty-four children were allocated to intervention (n = 49 [17 boys]) or control (n = 35 [22 boys]) groups. The intervention group undertook a 12-week parent or caregiver (PG) led, gamified stability skills program designed to be performed in a home environment. The control group participated in their usual activities. Stability skill and motor competence were assessed pre- and postintervention. A subsample of PGs (n = 7) participated in postintervention interviews. A series of analyses of covariance controlling for baseline values demonstrated significantly higher stability skills (p < .001) and higher ball kicking velocity (p = .025) postintervention for the intervention group compared with controls. There were no significant differences in other motor competence tests (all p > .05). There was a significant positive relationship (p < .001) between intervention dose and change in stability skills. Thematic analysis from PG interviews identified the following as facilitators for intervention engagement: (a) Intervention Format, (b) Autonomy, and (c) Social Support and the following as barriers to uptake: (a) Intervention Format, (b) Logistics and Life Constraints, (c) Parental Perceived Competence, and (d) Links to School.

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	Accepted author manuscript version reprinted, by permission, from Journal of Motor Learning and Development, 2025, https://doi.org/10.1123/jmld.2024-0108. © Human Kinetics, Inc.
Uncontrolled Keywords:	3209 Neurosciences; 4207 Sports science and exercise; 5202 Biological psychology
Subjects:	R Medicine > RC Internal medicine > RC1200 Sports Medicine R Medicine > RJ Pediatrics > RJ101 Child Health. Child health services
Divisions:	Sport and Exercise Sciences
Publisher:	Human Kinetics
Date of acceptance:	8 September 2025
Date of first compliant Open Access:	6 November 2025
Date Deposited:	06 Nov 2025 10:54
Last Modified:	06 Nov 2025 14:45
DOI or ID number:	10.1123/jmld.2024-0108
URI:	https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/27501

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