Purpose

The purpose of the intervention program is to enhance the psychomotor abilities and skills of children aged 4 to 8 years who exhibit symptoms of developmental coordination disorder (DCD).

Scale Analysis

The intervention program consists of exercise-play groups focusing on the following training areas:
Knowledge of body parts,
Gross motor skills,
Fine motor skills,
Ball handling, and
Rhythm.
The difficulty of the exercises gradually increases, adapting to the needs and progress of the children. The intervention program lasted five months and included 40 sessions, conducted twice a week. Each session lasted 20–30 minutes and followed a specific procedure, applied either individually or in groups.

Sample

In the first phase, a large sample of 1,200 children was assessed using the Developmental Coordination Disorder Detection Test. In the second phase, a sample of 24 children aged 4 to 8 years from kindergartens in the regions of Epirus and Athens was selected, based on identified significant motor skill needs. These children were given the DCD Detection Test again to evaluate their progress.

Validity and Reliability

The reliability of the measurements was ensured through repeated administration of the DCD Detection Test at various intervals. Internal consistency of the exercises and activities in the intervention program was secured through the gradual increase in difficulty and their adaptation to each child’s individual needs.
The results of the study demonstrated that the intervention program is effective in enhancing the psychomotor abilities of children with developmental coordination disorder, supporting the program’s validity and reliability.

Bibliography

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Karampatzaki, Z., & Stavrou, N. (2008). Developmental Coordination Disorder. In A. Stavrou (Ed.), Body Image and Body Schema (pp. 161–222). Athens: Anthropos.
Karampatzaki, Z. (2002). Early detection and recognition of developmental coordination disorder. Doctoral dissertation, University of Ioannina.
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Karampatzaki, Z. (forthcoming). Developmental Coordination Disorder Detection Test. Athens: Anthropos.