Abstract
The present study explores whether interventions such as target hitting play and horizontal-bar play effectively promote the development of orientation and differentiation abilities related to the throwing motion in children aged from 4 to 4.5 years and those from 4.5 to 5 years. Tests were performed before and after the study period to verify the effectiveness of these motor play interventions.
The effectiveness of target hitting play was examined in group A; this playwas effective in boys as they developed orientation ability for moving objects at 4 to 4.5 years of age and differentiation ability for balls of different weights at 4.5 to 5 years of age. The effectiveness of both target hitting play and horizontal-bar play was examined in group B; these proved effective for girls from 4 to 4.5years of age. Horizontal-bar play particularly contributed to the development of orientation and differentiation abilities. From the above results, the effect of each motor play issuggested to be different at different times depending on gender; therefore, it will be more effective when it is performed at the appropriate time. In particular, it was revealed that that orientation and differentiation abilities do not develop simultaneously in boys.
