Introduction: This article describes research aimed at comparing the motor skills of children from the forest and regular kindergartens using the MABC-2 test battery.
Objective: The main objective of the study was to determine the current level of motor skills, to verify the similarities or possible differences in children from the forest (FKG) and ordinary kindergartens (OKG) with regard to a different educational approach based on the environment. The question is how children from forest kindergartens are prepared for compulsory education in terms of motor skills.
Methods: MABC-2 measures the risk of motor difficulties using eight partial tests in three different components of fine motor skills (MD – manual dexterity), gross motor skills (AC – aiming and catching), balance (BAL). A total of 55 children (20 from forest kindergartens and 35 from regular kindergartens) aged 5-6 years participated in this study.
Results: The results show that children from forest kindergartens have significantly better gross motor skills, balance, overall test scores, and overall percentile. No difference was confirmed in fine motor skills.
Conclusion: Children from forest kindergartens are prepared in terms of motor skills, especially gross motor skills, and the balance are at a very good level and it is possible to state that even in fine motor skills they are not worse than children from regular kindergarten.