Effect of training program implemented with a maze-balance board on the developmental areas of preschool children

Abstract

Perceptual development which depends on ability of learning and maturity, is the most important process of mental development. It is commonly believed that the mental development of children is limited due to city life. Children can learn perceptual elements through movement participation. This improves the cognitive development, which triggers kinesthetic, vestibular, balance and tactile input stimuli that contribute to the integration processes in the central nervous system. Children become ready to learn when they develop perceptual and motor skills adequately during maturation and learning. The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of the training program implemented with developed educational material (a maze-balance board) for perceptual and motor skills of preschool children. This study used a pre-post experimental design. Seventeen preschool children from a primary public school in the Middle Black Sea Region of Turkey participated in the study. Random assignment of preschool children to the intervention and control group was done. The children in the intervention group attended a perceptual-training program of 17 to 22 sessions implemented with the maze-balance board. Denver Developmental Screening Test II (DDST II) was used to perform the developmental assessment of children. Mixed Model ANOVA was conducted for statistical analyses. A significant interaction was found in language development and gross motor development, showing that supporting perceptual motor skills in preschool children has significantly contributed to the development of language and gross motor skills in this study.