Growth, Physical Activity, and Motor Development in Prepubertal Children PDF

Preface

Health of the adult population is closely interwoven with the health of children; and the health of children depends on their levels of physical activity, their motor abilities, and their motor skills. Children are born to move, to play, and to be physically active. The growth of children depends on the styles of living and nutritional habits of their parents. Active parents usually have active and physically skilled children.

Human growth and development have been extensively investigated and analyzed. Data are available about body stature and body mass of children in most countries, and data are also available about infancy and children older than 10 years of age.

Less attention has been given to studies of anthropometrical parameters, motor abilities, and motor development of children before puberty — ages 8 to 12 years. This is the period during which a child is at sexual maturation level 1 or 2, according to Tanner;⁶¹⁸ and chronological age may be different from biological age by 1 to 3 years. This period of somatic growth and development is very important since this is the time children begin their school careers — where the possibilities for voluntary play and movement rapidly decrease while mental stresses rapidly increase. This is also the time of socalled prepuberty; or, for some children (accelerants), this is the time for the beginning of pubertal changes. The beginning of puberty is particularly present at this age in children from southern countries. Children from northern countries tend to mature later.

Many methodologies exist to correctly measure physical activities, motor abilities, and motor skills of children. Several test batteries have been recommended for the measurement of motor abilities from agencies such as the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD), the Youth Fitness and Fitnessgram test batteries in the U.S., and the Eurofit test battery in Europe. However, universally accepted test batteries for the measurement of motor abilities in prepubertal children are not yet available.

Problems exist with correct, scientifically accepted measurements of physical activities in children of all ages. However, questionnaires and movement counters can give us some information. It is very important that young children have basic knowledge about correct running, jumping, throwing, and swimming as well as knowledge of how to play different sports and games. However, there are no criteria for acceptable levels of motor skills or how to correctly measure those motor skills.

The scientific measurement of body composition of prepubertal children is also a difficult task. Compared with adults, there are only a few recommendations of how to measure body composition in children using easy-to-perform field methods. Few regression equations are available for the calculation of fat mass and/or fat-free mass in prepubertal children, using a skinfold thickness or bioelectrical impedance analysis method. Furthermore, all regression equations depend on the group of children on whom the regression equation was validated. Other methods of body composition measurement in children appear to be time-consuming, expensive, or not suitable for children.

This book reports the results of comprehensive studies of development during the prepubertal years as they relate to environmental conditions, with special attention given to anthropometrical changes, physical activity, and motor development. Especially important are the longitudinal studies in which the growth of children is studied during several years or several decades (The Amsterdam Growth Study).³²⁶ Of course, our knowledge today cannot answer all of the problems and questions related to somatic growth and development of prepubertal children.

This volume does not offer complete information on the rather broad topic of physical activity and fitness in prepubertal children, but it does cite certain examples from experimental studies. This book also includes information on the somatic growth and development of prepubertal children from Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union countries — most of which has been unavailable for a broad audience. The material presented is not homogenous, but it does have one common denominator: physical activity is key to the growth and development of prepubertal children.