Many children seem on track—but struggle with motor skills

Motor Skills Development in Children

Many children seem on track but struggle with motor skills, according to a University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) study.

The study reveals that even children who meet standard developmental milestones may be falling behind in age-appropriate motor skills. Priscila Tamplain, UT Arlington associate professor of kinesiology and director of the Motor Development Lab, has published multiple articles on the topic and cautions parents not to overlook the issue.

Motor skills play an important role in children’s long-term physical and mental health.

For example, children who struggle with kicking a ball or climbing a playground wall when entering elementary school may get left out of recess games, which can lead to withdrawal and social isolation—issues with lasting negative effects.

Author's summary: UTA study highlights importance of early motor skills development.

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The University of Texas at Arlington The University of Texas at Arlington — 2025-10-13

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