This study evaluated the relationships between the frequency of 37 fundamental movement patterns observed in nurseries and kindergartens and motor abilities, using 6 items, in 3―5-year-old children. The frequency of the 37 fundamental movement patterns was assessed through observation by teachers in nurseries and kindergartens, and the MKS motor ability test for preschool children (25 meter dash/shuttle run, standing long jump, soft/tennis ball throw, dipping endurance, continuous jump over, ball catching) was used to assess motor ability. The participants were 526 teachers and 11,130 preschool children in 109 nurseries and kindergartens across the country. The relationship of the fundamental movement pattern of manipulation with the corresponding motor ability was stronger than the same for locomotion. Overall, each motor ability measurement item was shown to be significantly related to various fundamental movement patterns. Thus, the various experiences of a motor pattern and experience of the motor pattern as various plays are related to motor development. Moreover, although the children with high motor ability had high frequency of various fundamental movement patterns, certain non-locomotion motor patterns, such as “lying” or “digging,” were the most seen fundamental movement patterns in children with low motor ability.
