Examining Difference in Walking Time on a Balance Beam with an Obstacle Based on Gender and Age in Preschool Children

Abstract

　This study examined the walking time of preschool children on a balance beam with an obstacle to determine what differences exist due to age and gender in order to evaluate the development of dynamic balance in preschool children their. The subjects were healthy children(5.8±0.5 years) from 5.0 to 6.9 years old. The time required to walk back and forth on the balance beam was measured with and without the use of an obstacle (height 5cm and 10cm, width 11.5cm). The walking time on the balance beam showed insignificant differences due to gender in all conditions. Walking time on the balance beam without the obstacle was significantly shorter than that with a high obstacle (10cm). The walking time of the 5 year-old children’s group was significantly longer than that of the 6 and a half year-olds’ in all conditions. 　From the above, it is judged that regardless of the placement of an obstacle, the walking time on a balance beam does not show a gender difference and it was longer in the first and last 5 year-old children’s group than in the last half of the 6 year-old children’s group. It was also found that the height of the obstacle greatly influences walking time on a balance beam in the first half of the 5 year-old children’s group.