The effect of family physical education environment on gross motor skills in preschool children

The movement of our body is a part of our everyday life. The location and degree of movement give us the ability and capacity to perform simple to complex tasks. New or improved gross motor skills enable us to explore more of our environment. It ultimately allows more opportunities for learning and doing. This quantitative study investigates the effect of the home environment on the gross motor skills of children aged 5 to 6 years in Changzhi City, China. The sample included 124 parents and 66 children. The two main tools used were the ‘Test of Gross Motor Development-2’ (TGMD-2) and the ‘Children’s Family Physical Education Environment Questionnaire’. The data analysis through these tests found that a parent-child physical activity intervention program significantly improved children’s gross motor skills. Post-intervention results indicated a strong relationship between parents’ attitudes towards physical education and enhancing their children’s motor skills. However, no significant relationship was found between the availability of sports materials at home before and after the intervention in the treatment group. These findings suggest that to improve children’s gross motor skills effectively, parents should actively engage in physical activities with their children and maintain a positive attitude towards physical education. The study highlights the critical role of parental involvement and attitudes in fostering children’s physical development within the home environment.