Physical Activity and Literacy Interventions for Children with Developmental Coordination Disorder: Present and Future Preferences

Author(s) : Naveed Shahzad & Hafiz Tahir Jameel

Abstract:

Children with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) experience limitations in motor skills learning and performance. Impact of limitations can be minimized through involvement in Physical Activities (PA) and development of Physical Literacy (PL). The purpose of this study is to search available literature published in last ten years purely based on physical activity interventions to determine current preferences and provide direction for future preferences in designing interventions for children with DCD. Search was made by using three key terms on four databases to explore articles published since 2013 that applied only physical activity interventions to study effect either on physical activity or physical literacy of children with DCD. Screening of available data revealed that there were only 05 studies which met the already defined inclusion criterion. Screening of articles also disclosed absence of interventional researches targeting physical literacy of children with DCD. Since DCD is a motor learning disorder more researches should be based on physical activity and target the same being the core area requiring amelioration. Moreover, a shift from physical activity to physical literacy is also needed as being more appropriate and broader concept for physical learning and growth of children with DCD.

Keywords: Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD), Physical Activity (PA), Physical Literacy (PL)