Ling-Yi Lin1,2, Rong-Ju Cherng2,3, Yung-Jung Chen4. 1. a Department of Occupational Therapy , College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University , Tainan , Taiwan. 2. b Institute of Allied Health Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University , Tainan , Taiwan. 3. c Department of Physical Therapy , College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University , Tainan , Taiwan. 4. d Department of Pediatrics , College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University , Tainan , Taiwan.
Abstract
AIM: To investigate the effects of touch-screen tablet use on the fine motor development of preschool children without developmental delay. METHODS: 40 children who used a touch-screen tablet more 60 minutes per week for at least 1 month received a 24-week home fine motor activity program using a touch-screen-tablet. 40 children matched for age (mean = 61.0 months) and sex who did not meet the criteria for previous tablet use received a 24-week program consisting of manual play activities. Motor performance was measured using the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency. The two-factor mixed design ANOVA was used to compare performance of the touch-screen tablet and non-touch-screen tablet groups. RESULTS: Pretest analysis showed no group differences in motor performance and pinch strength. At posttest, children in the nontouch-screen-tablet group made significantly greater changes in fine motor precision (p < 0.001), fine motor integration (p = 0.008), and manual dexterity (p = 0.003). CONCLUSION: Using a touch screen tablet extensively might be disadvantageous for the fine motor development of preschool children.
AIM: To investigate the effects of touch-screen tablet use on the fine motor development of preschool children without developmental delay. METHODS: 40 children who used a touch-screen tablet more 60 minutes per week for at least 1 month received a 24-week home fine motor activity program using a touch-screen-tablet. 40 children matched for age (mean = 61.0 months) and sex who did not meet the criteria for previous tablet use received a 24-week program consisting of manual play activities. Motor performance was measured using the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency. The two-factor mixed design ANOVA was used to compare performance of the touch-screen tablet and non-touch-screen tablet groups. RESULTS: Pretest analysis showed no group differences in motor performance and pinch strength. At posttest, children in the nontouch-screen-tablet group made significantly greater changes in fine motor precision (p < 0.001), fine motor integration (p = 0.008), and manual dexterity (p = 0.003). CONCLUSION: Using a touch screen tablet extensively might be disadvantageous for the fine motor development of preschool children.
Entities:
Keywords:
Touch-screen tablet; child development; fine motor; preschool
Authors: Juliana N P Nobre; Bernat Vinolas Prat; Juliana N Santos; Lívia R Santos; Leiziane Pereira; Sabrina da C Guedes; Rayane F Ribeiro; Rosane Luzia de S Morais Journal: J Pediatr (Rio J) Date: 2019-02-26 Impact factor: 2.990