Third, we need to be aware of the difficulties created by delayed motor development, which is particularly prevalent in poorer communities regardless of the national average income. Research conducted in the United States and Hong Kong (Goodway and Branta, 2003; Goodway, Robinson, and Crowe, 2010; Pang and Fond, 2009), for example, shows that of children aged 3 to 5 years in the lowest quartile of motor competence, girls are already behind boys in crucial skills such as object control, consisting of throwing, catching and kicking a ball. Children who have immature motor competencies are unable to benefit from regular physical education programmes later in life, suggesting that it is of vital importance to focus on quality movement education programmes in the early years.
s.