Full Length ArticleMotor skills in kindergarten: Internal structure, cognitive correlates and relationships to background variables

- The theoretical subdivision in fine and gross motor skills was confirmed empirically.
- Correlations between different motor domains and executive functions are comparable.
- Socio-ecological influences on the motor-cognitive performance link are rather small.

The present study aimed to contribute to the discussion about the relation between motor coordination and executive functions in preschool children. Specifically, the relation between gross and fine motor skills and executive functions as well as the relation to possible background variables (SES, physical activity) were investigated. Based on the data of N = 156 kindergarten children the internal structure of motor skills was investigated and confirmed the theoretically assumed subdivision of gross and fine motor skills. Both, gross and fine motor skills correlated significantly with executive functions, whereas the background variables seemed to have no significant impact on the executive functions and motor skills. Higher order control processes are discussed as an explanation of the relation between executive functions and motor skills.