The Relationship Between Motor Skill Levels and Participation in Physical Activity Among Primary School Students in Jordan

The interdependent relationship between the kinetic skills and levels of physical activity in early childhood plays a central role in shaping children’s health and developmental trajectories. Despite this importance, the nature of this relationship is often influenced by diverse cultural and educational environments. The objectives of this study were to examine the relationship between basic motor skills and levels of physical activity among elementary school students in Jordan, as well as to identify statistically significant differences in these variables according to gender (male and female), and to evaluate the effect of chronological age, measured in months, on skill development and activity levels. The researcher employed a descriptive correlational approach on a sample of 133 students (68 females, 65 males) aged 8 to 11 years. Data were collected using the Test of Gross Motor Development, Third Edition (TGMD-3), to assess motor skills, and the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Older Children (PAQ-C) to assess levels of physical activity. The results revealed a positive and statistically significant relationship between motor skills and physical activity levels (ρ = 0.306, p < 0.001). The analysis also indicated statistically significant gender differences in motor skills, with boys performing better than girls (p = 0.038), whereas girls demonstrated higher overall levels of physical activity than boys (p = 0.008). Furthermore, the findings showed that although skills develop with age as a result of biological maturation, levels of physical activity showed a marked decline at age 11. The study recommends the need to design school-based interventions focused on structured motor learning to ensure the sustainability of physical activity throughout childhood.