Dual-Component Intervention for Preschool Motor and Social Skills: Examining Effectiveness and Mediation

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Saturday 1:30 pm Four Seasons Ballroom 1
  In Roundtable Session: Social-Emotional Development (Table 6)

Abstract

This study explored the impact of a dual-component intervention combining Successful Kinesthetic Instruction for Preschoolers (SKIP) and PAX-Good Behavior Game (PAX-GBG) on preschoolers' motor and social-emotional development. The intervention aimed to improve fundamental motor skills (locomotor and object control) and social skills (cooperation and self-control) while also examining whether executive function mediated these developmental outcomes. Conducted with 449 preschoolers, the study found significant improvements in both motor and social skills in both intervention and control groups. However, executive function did not mediate these improvements. The findings suggest that while the intervention did not provide unique benefits beyond natural development, further research with larger samples and controlled conditions is needed to fully assess its effectiveness.

Authors

• Shea Elizabeth Ferguson, University of South Carolina

• Angela D. Starrett, University of South Carolina

• Emily P. Lohrbach, University of South Carolina

• Ali S. Brian, University of South Carolina