Abstract:
Gross and fine motor development during early childhood serves as a crucial foundation for a child's physical growth and functional abilities. This study aimed to analyze the gross and fine motor development profiles of young children and to examine differences in motor achievement based on gender and age group. Employing a quantitative, descriptive-comparative design, the study involved a sample of 32 young children from an early childhood education setting. Data were collected using the standardized Ages & Stages Questionnaires, Third Edition (ASQ-3) instrument. The Shapiro-Wilk normality test indicated a non-normal data distribution; consequently, comparative analyses were conducted using non-parametric statistical tests: the Mann-Whitney U test (for gender) and the Kruskal-Wallis H test (for age group). The results revealed that the majority of the sample demonstrated motor achievements appropriate for their developmental stage; however, 31.2% of the children fell into the "monitoring" category, indicating a need for further stimulation. Comparative analysis based on gender showed no significant differences in either gross motor (Z = −0.886; p = 0.376) or fine motor (Z = −0.733; p = 0.464) skills. Similarly, comparative analysis based on age group revealed no significant differences in gross motor (H = 0.445; p = 0.801) or fine motor (H = 0.870; p = 0.647) skills. In conclusion, the motor development of young children at the study site was not significantly influenced by gender or age (4–6 years); rather, it requires inclusive and equitable movement stimulation.
