TITLE:
Influencing Factors and Strategies for the Development of Young Children’s Operational Motor Skills from the Perspective of Healthy China
AUTHORS:
Jiajia Zhu, Mengping Yang, Jiahui Zhu
KEYWORDS:
Healthy China, Operational Motor Skills, Influencing Factors, Support Strategies
JOURNAL NAME:
Creative Education,
Vol.17 No.9,
September
18,
2026
ABSTRACT: This study assessed the operational motor skills of 620 senior kindergarten children from a city in China using the TGMD-3 assessment tool. The results showed that children performed better in four specific skills: two-handed catching, kicking, overhand throwing, and underhand throwing. Significant differences in operational motor skills were found across age, gender, and kindergarten type (public vs. private). A clear tri-level stratification (high, medium, low) was identified in children’s operational motor skill performance. Age emerged as the core predictor of skill development, and its effect was not moderated by gender. Both gender and kindergarten type showed independent predictive effects. Based on these findings, recommendations include implementing age-graded and phased physical activities; optimizing resource and activity allocation considering differences in kindergarten type; establishing a targeted, tiered intervention mechanism to enhance operational motor skills; and building a supportive environment that fosters home-kindergarten-community collaboration.