The Effect of School Games on Motor Skills Development in Children with Autism

Background. Childhood stands out as a pivotal phase in motor development, making it essential to explore interventions that promote motor skills in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Objectives. This study investigated the impact of school-based games on motor skill development in children with ASD. Methods. The study included 80 elementary school students, aged 11-12, from which 20 were randomly assigned to either an experimental group (n=10) or a control group (n=10). Employing a pretest-posttest design, the 8-week intervention consisted of 5060 minute school-based game sessions, twice weekly. Assessment tools encompassed the Childhood Autism Test, the Oseretsky Motor Proficiency Test, and a researcher-designed School Games Checklist. Results. Results revealed significant between-group differences favoring the experimental group (P<0.05) in post-test scores on both gross motor skills (running speed and agility, balance, bilateral coordination, strength) and fine motor skills (reaction time, visual motor control, upper limb speed, and dexterity). Conclusion. The games-based program effectively enhanced motor skills in children with ASD, underlining the importance of tailored movement and sports programs to support their physical, cognitive, and social development.