Background: Mastery motivational climate (MMC) interventions are an evidence-based approach utilized to deliver motor skill interventions (MSI) for young children. There are 6 environmental characteristics and instructional cues an instructor must appropriately manipulate to implement a MMC. These are known as the TARGET and stand for Task,…

Purpose: This study followed a strengths-based approach to identify the pathway children follow as they develop from novice to skillful learners during a mastery-motivational physical education setting. Method: Eleven 4-year-old children (nine boys) participated in a motor activity program delivered twice weekly across 26 weeks. The teacher…

Early childhood educators, especially those in preschool centers, are often expected to design and implement movement programs. However, these individuals may not have been taught these skills during their education. The purpose of this study was to determine if early childhood majors could successfully be taught to implement a mastery climate…

Two years ago, the rapid retirement of the "baby boomer artisans" in vast numbers threatened to erode the competitiveness of Japanese manufacturers (i.e., the 2007 problem). This study proposes a practical process for extracting skills and designing a training system, to accelerate the learning of skills in production fields by younger…

The KinderSkills program, in which parents serve as motor development teachers of their children, has operated for five years. A recent innovation was to add grandparents to the program to see if the motor skill levels of the grandparents also would improve. This program is described and evaluated. (MT)

This article describes Success in Physical Activity, a program for students with autism. The program, based on adaptations of the Treatment and Education of Autistic and Related Communications-Handicapped Children (TEACCH) recreational structure program, focuses on two areas: physical fitness and motor ability. (Contains seven references.)…

This article focuses on standards specific to Domain 3: Physical Preparation and Conditioning of the National Standards for Sport Coaches (NASPE, 2004b). It discusses program design concepts that coaches can apply to prepare athletes for the demands of their sport, and is based on both research and best professional practice. Sport preparation has…

Physical education, intramurals, and interscholastics are often key areas of study for staffs working to provide for the physical needs of the middle school child. This paper gives direction to the development of programs in physical education in this area. A brief analysis of the problems involved in physical education at the middle school level…

The Dohsa method, a therapeutic method used for children with autism, was originally developed for children with cerebral palsy in Japan. This article introduces the theoretical background, therapeutic techniques, and effectiveness of this method. The necessity of combining this method with other therapeutic techniques is discussed. (Contains…

A set of minimum physical education skill objectives, basic motor performances all elementary and secondary school children should be capable of demonstrating are presented in the form of specific drill instructions. Divided into grade levels for purposes of assessment, the exercises are intended to be ungraded activities. The rationale for this…

The purpose of this guide was to unify physical education programs in several school districts through the development of common objectives. Curricular content was developed according to levels of learning in attitudes, concepts, and skills, recognizing skills in a sequential developmental and spiral arrangement. Nine areas of motor skill…

The guide is intended to help teachers teach mentally handicapped children who have been mainstreamed into preschool, nursery school, or first grade public school classes. Part 1 answers frequently asked questions regarding the definition of mental retardation, realistic expectations, emotional needs, discipline, and teaching approaches. Part 2…

The National Research Council formed a Committee on Educational Interventions for Children with Autism and charged the committee with integrating the scientific, theoretical, and policy literature and creating a framework for evaluating the scientific evidence concerning the effects and features of educational interventions for young children with…