Abstract:

This study investigated the fine motor skill (manuel dexterity) levels of typically developing children between the ages of 9 - 11 who engage in different sports branches in which the hand limb are actively used and who do not do any sports were examined. A total of 210 children, engaged in different sports (Basketball, n = 30; Volleyball, n = 30; Handball, n = 30; Swimming, n = 30; Tennis, n = 30; Chess, n = 30) and not engaged in sports (Sedentary, n = 30), participated in the study. The sample of the study consisted of children who have no health problems and whose dominant hand is right. The manuel dexterity subtest of Bruininks-Oseretsky Motor Proficiency Test-Second Version (BOT-2) was used to examine the level of fine motor development of children. When the results are examined; there was a statistically significant difference between sports branches in terms of making dots in circles, transferring pennies , sorting cards, stringing blocks subtests and total score of manuel dexterity (p<0.05). There was no significant difference between the groups in the subtest parameter of placing pegs into a pegboard (p>0.05). In conclusion; dealing with sports branches in which the hand limb is actively used during childhood period creates of significant difference and positive effect on the manuel dexterity of these children. It is important that children in the developmental age are encouraged and supported to do sports during this period.

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