The role of parental involvement in fundamental movement skills among Hungarian school-aged children.

Abstract

Background: Encouraging physical activity and developing fundamental movement skills (FMS) is crucial for the healthy growth of children. Parental involvement can play a decisive role in shaping children's physical activity habits; however, few studies have examined its direct impact on FMS. The aim of our study was to explore the extent to which parenting style, sporting habits, and the socio-cultural background of the family influence children's movement skills.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with the participation of 133 students (aged 10-13) from eight primary schools in Nyíregyháza, Hungary. The children's fundamental movement skills were assessed using the KTK3 test, organized into three subtests: Walking Backwards (WB), Jumping Sideways (JS), and Moving Sideways (MS). Parental involvement and family background were assessed through a questionnaire. The study included several analyses of the data: the Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis tests, as well as multivariate regression analysis.

Results: The findings revealed that parental involvement was positively correlated with children's WB performance (p < 0.05), while inconsistent discipline indicated a negative relationship with WB results (p < 0.05). The frequency of children's physical activity was positively associated with FMS performance: individuals who engaged in sports several times a week achieved higher scores in balance and coordination tasks (p < 0.05). Furthermore, among parental sporting habits, fathers' participation in recreational-level sports showed a positive association with children's WB performance (p = 0.029). Modes of transportation were also found to shape results: regular car use and less frequent public transportation use were associated with better WB and MS outcomes (p < 0.05).

Conclusions: Although the direct implication of parental support and parenting style was not evident in all cases, the findings suggest that parental involvement can enhance children's movement skills, whereas inconsistent disciplinary practices may hinder their development. Strategies to support children's motor skill progression should focus on the entire family's lifestyle, with particular attention to sporting and transportation habits.