The results showed that while the children with bilateral OME did not differ in terms of background characteristics, they were significantly disadvantaged in speech articulation ability, verbal comprehension, motor development, and intelligence. They also had significantly more behavior problems. (Author)

This article describes the playground of the future. Its design would promote both defined and creative play opportunities for all children including the handicapped. Also discussed is the equipment that would be useful in developing all children's perceptual motor abilities in 11 different areas. (JM)

Directional preference for horizontal hand movements was investigated in 49 right- and 49 left-handed four-year-olds using three drawing tests. Directionality for more complex perceptual-motor tasks has a different basis than directionality for simple tasks; such directionality is established at a later age but only for the right hand. (Author/CM)

American youth sport has changed in the past few years to incorporate females into programs once reserved for males. Research into the physiologies of females supports the fact that no evidence exists for the segregation of children into gender-determined groups for athletic participation. (JN)

Instructors of professional preparation courses for teachers have too often neglected responsibility for application of theory into practice. The Basic Stuff Series is envisioned as a medium through which disciplinary scholars and professional physical education practitioners can share their expertise. (JN)

The University of Massachusetts has designed a preschool laboratory gym program for 2 1/2 - 5 year olds to encourage the development of a wide range of abilities, specifically, to provide practice in climbing, balancing, hanging, jumping, running, sliding, swinging, and ball handling. (JMF)

Two experiments tested the effects of crawling-onset age, amount of crawling experience, and testing age on avoidance of the deep side of a visual cliff apparatus by human infants. Crawling-onset age disciminated between infants because crawling during the tactile phase interferes with later visual control of locomotion. (Author/RD)

Children identified for specific reading retardation were tested at initial contact and after two years on a variety of measures including seat activity, and cognitive and motor steadiness tasks. Speed of response and motor steadiness showed moderate to very high consistency over the two years. (Author/SJL)

Generalizability theory provides the teacher and the researcher with a flexible method for establishing reliability coefficients in tests. This theory is effective in estimating reliability for a set of motor performance test scores. (CJ)

The results of this study suggest that public school physical education programs may not be designed to develop aerobic endurance. (MM)

A study compared the motor coordination of 26 Japanese children (ages 6-15) with Asperger syndrome and 14 with learning disabilities using the Movement Assessment Battery for Children. Although no relationship was found between intellectual and motor function, both groups demonstrated motor delay. Children with autism had poorer ball skills. (CR)

Highlights the importance of activities to build gross motor skills and provides hints for encouraging such activities. Specific areas of activities presented are: (1) running and jumping; (2) music games; (3) action games; (4) races; (5) bed sheets or parachutes; (6) hula hoops; (7) balls; (8) batting; (9) balance; and (10) creative movement. (SD)

This project developed a motor performance instrument for a motor performance award scheme for kindergartners to be used by the Hong Kong Childhealth Foundation. Findings indicated that boys outperformed girls on agility and throwing. Girls performed better than boys on static balance. A marked improvement in agility was noted at age 5.5 years,…

Five articles on dance dynamics and dance science focus on incorporating dance science into techniques class and performance training, the role of body therapies in dance training, psychological and nutritional concerns in dance, and training dancers and preventing injuries. (JD)

Examination and comparison of the changes in movement trajectories of two initially naive American Sign Language (ASL) students during an introductory ASL course found that their movement pattern increased in speed, symmetry, and replicability and grew more constrained in amplitude as the semester progressed. (Author/CB)