Longitudinal changes in motor skills and parental responses following early motor screening in preschool children: a 6-month observational follow-up study

OBJECTIVE: This follow-up study examined changes in motor performance over 6 months among preschool children in Tyrol, Austria, initially screened for motor difficulties suggestive of developmental coordination disorder. It also investigated parental actions initiated after early testing that may be relevant for subsequent motor skill development. DESIGN: This study is a longitudinal observational follow-up study based on a previously assessed cohort. Children's motor development was reassessed 6 months after baseline using the Movement Assessment Battery for Children-Second Edition (M-ABC-2). Information on any interventions initiated in the interim was collected via parent report. SETTING: Follow-up assessments were conducted 6 months after the initial testing under standardised conditions in physiotherapy practices by the same trained and experienced examiners. PARTICIPANTS: 36 children (aged 4-6 years) from the original cohort who previously completed the M-ABC-2 were re-assessed. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome was change in domain-specific motor performance over 6 months. The secondary outcome was parental actions initiated following early testing which may influence subsequent motor development. RESULTS: Children with initial motor difficulties showed significant improvements in manual dexterity and aiming and catching (p=0.016 and p=0.039, respectively), while balance improvements were not statistically significant. Conversely, children with previously age-appropriate scores showed no significant gains and a notable decline in balance (p=0.012). Most parents of children with initial difficulties reported initiating supportive actions, including home-based activities and formal therapy. However, 41.6% of children still scored below the 15th percentile at the M-ABC-2 at follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Children with initial domain-specific motor difficulties showed improvements over 6 months, particularly in manual dexterity and aiming and catching, whereas balance deficits appeared more persistent. Causal effects of home-based activities and formal therapeutic interventions cannot be inferred.