Cognitive and Physical Development in Childhood: a Study of Visual-Motor Coordination and Fitness in Kyrgyzstan

Abstract

This study examines the relationship between cognitive performance, particularly visual-motor coordination, and physical fitness among 3345 children aged 8 to 10 from Kyrgyzstan's Bishkek and Chüy regions. The primary objective was to explore how visual-motor coordination and decision-making skills relate to physical performance in middle childhood. Physical fitness was assessed using the Eurofit test battery, which evaluates general physical competence across multiple components such as strength, balance, and flexibility, and is widely used in developmental and educational settings. The Kohs Block Design Test (KOHS) evaluated cognitive performance, particularly visual-motor coordination. Correlation analysis was performed to examine the relationship between physical performance and visual-motor coordination. Data analysis also involved the Shapiro–Wilk test for normality, one-way ANOVA and Tukey’s post hoc tests for age group comparisons, and independent t-tests for gender differences. All statistical analyses were performed using SPSS Version 21, with significance set at p<0.05. Eight-year-olds demonstrated significantly better visual-motor coordination compared to 9- and 10-year-olds (p<0.01), and 8-year-old girls outperformed boys (p<0.05). A strong negative correlation was found, indicating that faster completion times in visual-motor tasks were associated with better physical performance. Additionally, physical performance scores generally improved with age. The findings highlight a strong association between visual-motor coordination and physical performance. The findings highlight a strong association between visual-motor coordination and physical performance, supporting the notion that these abilities develop in parallel during early childhood. This underscores the importance of early interventions that target both cognitive-perceptual and motor domains to foster well-rounded developmental progress. © 2025 Montenegrin Sports Academy. All rights reserved.