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Fewer Toddlers above the Norm? A Pilot Study on Supporting Motor Competence in Flemish Childcare and Its Practical Challenges

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Title: Fewer Toddlers above the Norm? A Pilot Study on Supporting Motor Competence in Flemish Childcare and Its Practical Challenges
Language: English
Authors: Eline Coppens (ORCID 0000-0003-4227-8097), Laure Geirnaert (ORCID 0009-0006-0284-9245), Eva D’Hondt (ORCID 0000-0001-5646-2261), Matthieu Lenoir (ORCID 0000-0003-3906-1137)
Source: Journal of Motor Learning and Development. 2026 14(1).
Availability: Human Kinetics, Inc. 1607 North Market Street, Champaign, IL 61820. Tel: 800-474-4457; Fax: 217-351-1549; e-mail: info@hkusa.com; Web site: https://journals.humankinetics.com/view/journals/jmld/jmld-overview.xml
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 12
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Descriptors: Toddlers, Psychomotor Skills, Motor Development, Foreign Countries, Child Care Centers, Intervention, Physical Activities, Gender Differences
Geographic Terms: Belgium
Assessment and Survey Identifiers: Peabody Developmental Motor Scales
DOI: 10.1123/jmld.2025-0048
ISSN: 2325-3193
2325-3215
Abstract: Motor competence (MC) development from an early age is crucial for fostering healthy developmental trajectories. However, recent evidence suggests a secular decline in MC from age three onward, whereas the status of MC in children under 3 years is scarcely documented. This pilot study assessed MC of Flemish toddlers relative to the benchmarks of the Peabody Developmental Motor Scales-Second Edition and evaluated the effectiveness of a 20-week intervention targeting locomotion, stationary skills, and object manipulation. A nonrandomized controlled trial was conducted in 12 Flemish daycare centers, with 104 toddlers (intervention: n = 54, control: n = 50; mean age = 19.9 ±3.0 months). At baseline, results showed a significant leftward shift in MC profiles (p < 0.001, Cramér's V = 0.236) with fewer toddlers classified as above average or superior compared with the Peabody Developmental Motor Scales-Second Edition reference values. Regardless of toddlers' sex, the intervention significantly improved locomotion (p = 0.025; η²ₚ = 0.053) and stationary skills (p = 0.007; η²ₚ = 0.077) but not object manipulation. Given the high daycare attendance rate in Flanders (>70%), these settings offer a valuable opportunity to foster MC development. However, interventions must be feasible, sustainable, and aligned with daycare practices to ensure long-term impact.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1508746
Database: ERIC
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  Data: &lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;AR&quot; term=&quot;%22Eline+Coppens%22&quot;&gt;Eline Coppens&lt;/searchLink&gt; (ORCID &lt;externalLink term=&quot;https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4227-8097&quot;&gt;0000-0003-4227-8097&lt;/externalLink&gt;)&lt;br /&gt;&lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;AR&quot; term=&quot;%22Laure+Geirnaert%22&quot;&gt;Laure Geirnaert&lt;/searchLink&gt; (ORCID &lt;externalLink term=&quot;https://orcid.org/0009-0006-0284-9245&quot;&gt;0009-0006-0284-9245&lt;/externalLink&gt;)&lt;br /&gt;&lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;AR&quot; term=&quot;%22Eva+D%27Hondt%22&quot;&gt;Eva D’Hondt&lt;/searchLink&gt; (ORCID &lt;externalLink term=&quot;https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5646-2261&quot;&gt;0000-0001-5646-2261&lt;/externalLink&gt;)&lt;br /&gt;&lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;AR&quot; term=&quot;%22Matthieu+Lenoir%22&quot;&gt;Matthieu Lenoir&lt;/searchLink&gt; (ORCID &lt;externalLink term=&quot;https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3906-1137&quot;&gt;0000-0003-3906-1137&lt;/externalLink&gt;)
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  Data: Motor competence (MC) development from an early age is crucial for fostering healthy developmental trajectories. However, recent evidence suggests a secular decline in MC from age three onward, whereas the status of MC in children under 3 years is scarcely documented. This pilot study assessed MC of Flemish toddlers relative to the benchmarks of the Peabody Developmental Motor Scales-Second Edition and evaluated the effectiveness of a 20-week intervention targeting locomotion, stationary skills, and object manipulation. A nonrandomized controlled trial was conducted in 12 Flemish daycare centers, with 104 toddlers (intervention: n = 54, control: n = 50; mean age = 19.9 &#177;3.0 months). At baseline, results showed a significant leftward shift in MC profiles (p &lt; 0.001, Cram&#233;r&#39;s V = 0.236) with fewer toddlers classified as above average or superior compared with the Peabody Developmental Motor Scales-Second Edition reference values. Regardless of toddlers&#39; sex, the intervention significantly improved locomotion (p = 0.025; η&#178;ₚ = 0.053) and stationary skills (p = 0.007; η&#178;ₚ = 0.077) but not object manipulation. Given the high daycare attendance rate in Flanders (&gt;70%), these settings offer a valuable opportunity to foster MC development. However, interventions must be feasible, sustainable, and aligned with daycare practices to ensure long-term impact.
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  Data: 2026
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        Value: 10.1123/jmld.2025-0048
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      – Text: English
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      – SubjectFull: Toddlers
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      – SubjectFull: Motor Development
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      – SubjectFull: Gender Differences
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      – SubjectFull: Peabody Developmental Motor Scales
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      – TitleFull: Fewer Toddlers above the Norm? A Pilot Study on Supporting Motor Competence in Flemish Childcare and Its Practical Challenges
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