Interventions by Caregivers to Promote Motor Development in Young Children, the Caregivers' Attitudes and Benefits Hereof: A Scoping Review

Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Sep 14;19(18):11543. doi: 10.3390/ijerph191811543.

Abstract

In the first year of life, the child's caregivers, including parents and daycare staff, play an essential role, as they are responsible for implementing daily activities to promote the motor development of young children. However, what does the research show about interventions to promote the motor development of 0-36-month-olds carried out by the child's caregivers, and what are the caregivers' experiences and attitudes hereof? This scoping review aims to provide an overview of the published studies to derive an overall interpretation. A systematic search was conducted in five scientific databases, resulting in 10,219 articles, of which 9 met the inclusion criteria. The results indicate that providing early intervention to 0-36-month-old children, in which the caregivers carry out the activities, promotes the young child's motor development. Furthermore, the interventions increase the caregivers' interest and motivation to promote the young child's motor development, which is essential in maintaining the behaviour after the end of the interventions. Supervision and guidance provided for the child's caregivers concerning knowledge and skills about age-appropriate behaviours and facilitation of their child's motor development increases the caregivers' self-confidence, interest, and motivation.

Keywords: caregivers; infants; interventions; motor development; motor skills; parents; scoping review; toddlers; young children.

Publication types

  • Review
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Caregivers*
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice*
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Self Concept

Grants and funding

This research has been funded by Helsefonden, the Municipality of Hoeje-Taastrup and University of Southern Denmark, and it is part of a Ph.D. project. Project number at University for Southern: 31417. The funding number for Helsefonden is 20-B-0241.