Preprint Article Version 1 Preserved in Portico This version is not peer-reviewed

MiniMovers: An initial pilot and feasibility study to investigate the impact of a mobile application on children’s motor skills and parent support for physical development

Yajie Zhang
ORCID logo ,
Nalda Wainwright
ORCID logo ,
Jacqueline Goodway
* ,
Amanda John
,
Anna Stevenson
,
Kirsty Edwards Thomas
,
Sean Jenkins
ORCID logo ,
Fatma Layas
ORCID logo ,
Kate Piper
Version 1 : Received: 21 December 2023 / Approved: 21 December 2023 / Online: 22 December 2023 (09:11:49 CET)

A peer-reviewed article of this Preprint also exists.

Zhang, Y.; Wainwright, N.; Goodway, J.D.; John, A.; Stevenson, A.; Thomas, K.; Jenkins, S.; Layas, F.; Piper, K. MiniMovers: An Initial Pilot and Feasibility Study to Investigate the Impact of a Mobile Application on Children’s Motor Skills and Parent Support for Physical Development. Children 2024, 11, 99. Zhang, Y.; Wainwright, N.; Goodway, J.D.; John, A.; Stevenson, A.; Thomas, K.; Jenkins, S.; Layas, F.; Piper, K. MiniMovers: An Initial Pilot and Feasibility Study to Investigate the Impact of a Mobile Application on Children’s Motor Skills and Parent Support for Physical Development. Children 2024, 11, 99.

Abstract

The MiniMovers (MM) APP combines motor development theory with creativity expertise and has been designed to provide parents with developmentally appropriate activities to support children’s motor skills. This study investigates how MiniMovers activities enabled parents to support their children’s physical development. Families participated in an 8-week MM programme of activities from the MM APP (Mini, Mighty and Mega levels), with pre- and post-intervention data collected. Mixed research methods were applied among children (N=8; aged 21-79 months) and their parents, providing quantitative analysis on children’s performance (running, throwing, jumping, kicking, balancing and catching), as well as qualitative analysis on parents’ attitude and behaviour (co-activity questionnaire, two-weekly feedback surveys and interviews). Kinematic data and kinetic data were captured using marker-based motion capture system and a force plate, respectively. For catching, children at Mighty and Mega levels were also tested using eye-tracking glasses. Videos were recorded for developmental stage evaluation. The results showed that five children improved across different ages, with two children improving in almost all tasks, and three children who had more tasks that improved than did not. Parents reported increased levels of co-activity, increased children’s enjoyment, independence, and confidence. This pilot study provides support for the research and development of MM App and suggests a need for more research into the use of APPs to support in home activities among families with young children.

Keywords

physical activity; motor skills; movement app; parents

Subject

Public Health and Healthcare, Public Health and Health Services

Copyright: This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

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