Brief Description

This battery consists of 13 tests presented in the form of a fairy tale. They assess motor and psychomotor characteristics such as speed, stability, movement accuracy, balance, recognition of letters and colors, visuospatial ability, comprehension and execution of commands, and other related skills. Each test is scored on a 5-point scale (from 1 to 5), and the scores are then converted into percentage values. The assessment can be administered individually or in groups, within a playful context, in order to evaluate the psychomotor ability of children aged 48 to 72 months.

Purpose

The battery is designed to measure and screen for psychomotor ability in preschool-aged children. It is used both for research purposes and for identifying children who may exhibit developmental delays or psychomotor difficulties, so they can be referred to appropriate early intervention programs.

Scoring Method

Each performance is scored on a 5-point scale (1–5), which is then converted into percentage values. Individual scores are aggregated to produce an overall psychomotor ability index. Norm-referenced distributions are also provided to interpret performance in relation to age group norms.

Validity

The battery has been compared for validity with the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency (BOTMP) (Bruininks, 1978), showing satisfactory correlation coefficients. For example, the short version (14 tests) had a correlation of r = 0.87 (p < 0.001), while the full version (46 tests) showed r = 0.71 (p < 0.001), confirming its validity as a tool for assessing psychomotor skills.

Reliability

Test–retest reliability and internal consistency of the battery are very high. Reliability coefficients ranged from 0.92 to 0.99 (p < 0.001), exceeding the minimum acceptable threshold of 0.80. These results apply to both the full and short forms of the battery and confirm its accuracy.

Data Analysis and Use

The battery can be used for diagnostic assessment of children in preschools, kindergartens, and developmental centers. The results are particularly valuable for identifying children who may have developmental delays and for designing individualized interventions. It can also be utilized in research studies exploring the relationship between motor development and cognitive functioning.

References

Bruininks, R. H. (1978). The Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency: Examiner’s Manual. Circle Pines, MN: American Guidance Service.
Cardenas, B. (2004). Diagnostik mit Prüfaufgaben – Ein kindgemäßes Verfahren zur Beobachtung von Wahrnehmung und Motorik. Dortmund: Verlag Modernes Lernen.
Kampas, A., & Zimmer, R. (2004). Democritos-Psychomotor Assessment Tool for Preschool Children (PAT-PRE): A new European tool for assessing psychomotor performance.
Kampas, A., & Angeloussis, N. (2001). Validity–reliability and objectivity testing of the Komotini Motor Assessment Tool for Preschool Children (MATPC).
Venetsanos, F. (2007). Study of motor development in preschool-aged children in the Peloponnese. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Department of Physical Education and Sport Science, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.