The Home Physical Activity Ecosystem and Children?s Fundamental Motor Skills

Abstract

Children in the U.S. do not get enough daily physical activity or develop a strong foundation for fundamental motor skills, which may put them at risk for negative developmental and health outcomes. Physical activity is linked to the development of fundamental motor skills, which in turn allow children to engage in more complex physical activities. Various social and physical factors, including parenting practices, space for play, and access to equipment, are thought to influence children's physical activity at home and potentially support motor skill development. However, the impact of the home environment on the development of fundamental motor skills has not been well-studied. This dissertation explores the relationships between the home environment, children's motor skill development, and physical activity behaviors. Aim 1 examined factors associated with physical activity parenting practices, focusing on both parents and children. The findings suggested that parents who are knowledgeable about adult physical activity guidelines, believe in the importance of physical activity for both adults and children, feel confident in their own skills, and perceive their children as skilled in physical activities tend to engage in more supportive and less controlling physical activity parenting practices. Conversely, parents who were more physically active tended to use more controlling parenting practices. However, the strongest associations with physical activity parenting practices were found with children’s objectively measured fundamental motor skills and physical activity levels. Aim 2 explored how different physical activity parenting practices relate to children's fundamental motor skills and physical activity levels. It also investigated whether parents' knowledge, beliefs, self-competence in physical activity skills, and physical activity behaviors are linked to children's movement through these parenting practices. The findings indicated that structured practices, including parents joining in activities, setting clear expectations, and creating opportunities for physical activities, are associated with better fundamental motor skills and higher physical activity levels in children. However, parenting practices that were primarily encouraging or overly controlling did not show a significant relationship with children's motor skills or activity levels. Additionally, this aim highlighted that parents' knowledge, beliefs, self-competence in physical activity skills, and physical activity behaviors are related to children’s movement outcomes through their association with structured and controlling physical activity parenting practices. Aim 3 investigated whether having space and equipment for physical activity at home is associated with children's fundamental motor skills and physical activity levels. It also explored whether the relationship between parents' physical activity practices and children's movement behaviors varies depending on the amount or accessibility of these resources at home. The findings suggested that the amount of accessible physical activity equipment was associated with lower fundamental motor skills. Additionally, it was found that structured physical activity parenting practices were associated with higher physical activity levels in homes with more physical activity resources. It is essential for children to learn fundamental motor skills and develop healthy physical activity habits to support their growth and development. This dissertation shows that factors such as parents' knowledge, behaviors, and perceptions, as well as children's fundamental motor skills and physical activity levels, and the physical environment at home, are related to parenting practices and children’s movement outcomes. The findings address important gaps in our understanding of how the home environment relates to children’s motor skill development and could inform the design of programs aimed at improving both children's motor skills and physical activity levels.