Determining possible differences by gender in certain motor abilities of preschool children

Cilj ovog istraživanja bio je utvrditi moguće razlike po spolu u pojedinim motoričkim sposobnostima djece predškolske dobi. Istraživanje je provedeno na uzorku od 60 djece (30 dječaka i 30 djevojčica) u dobi od 6 godina (± 6 mjeseci) polaznika dječjeg vrtića u gradu Zagrebu. Primijenjena je baterija od sedam testova za procjenu brzine (taping rukom), fleksibilnosti (pretklon trupa), izdržljivosti (trčanje u trajanju od 90 sekundi), koordinacije (poligon natraške), ravnoteže (stajanje na jednoj nozi na kocki), eksplozivne snage (skok u dalj) i repetitivne snage (trbušnjaci u 30 sekundi). Dobiveni podaci mjerenja prikazani su deskriptivnom metodom dok je za usporedbu svih varijabli po spolu te provjeru značajnosti njihove razlike primijenjena analiza varijance (ANOVA). Statistički značajne razlike po spolu u motoričkim sposobnostima utvrđene su u varijablama repetitivne snage i izdržljivosti u korist dječaka te fleksibilnosti u korist djevojčica. Na temelju rezultata može se zaključiti kako je u ovom dobnom uzrastu došlo do pojave spolnog dimorfizma.The aim of this study was to determine possible gender differences in certain motor abilities of preschool children. The research was conducted on a sample of 60 children (30 boys and 30 girls) aged 6 years (± 6 months) attending kindergarten in the city of Zagreb. A battery of seven tests was applied to assess speed (hand tapping), flexibility (sit and reach), endurance (running for 90 seconds), coordination (polygon backward), balance (standing on one leg on the cube), explosive strenght (standing long jump) and repetitive strenght (sit-ups in 30 seconds). The obtained measurement data are presented by the descriptive method, while the analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to compare all variables by gender and check the significance of their differences. Statistically significant differences by gender in motor skills were found in the variables of repetitive strength and endurance in favor of boys and flexibility in favor of girls. Based on the results, it can be concluded that sexual dimorphism occurred at this age