Which social and physical environmental factors at home are associated with motor competence in typically developing toddlers? – A systematic review

Background
Motor competence (MC) plays a key role in toddler’s holistic development and is fundamental for cultivating an active and healthy lifestyle. However, recent evidence indicated that MC development is already delayed in 1- to 3-years-olds. Furthermore, the World Health Organization identified motor development in toddlers as a research gap. The etiology of a child’s MC can be attributed to cumulative interactions and exposures with the environment, both stimulating and hindering. Since the home environment is very influential during early childhood, this systematic review aims to identify the social and physical environmental factors at home associated with toddlers’ MC.
Methods-Results
This registered review (CRD42024501137) follows the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Five electronic databases were searched: PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Education Resources Information Center and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature. The search strategy included terms describing 1- to 3-year old typically developing children, MC, as well as social and physical factors in the home setting. After conducting the systematic search, 4890 articles were found and 3945 remained after duplicate removal. Peer-reviewed English-written observational research articles published from the year 2000 onwards are included. The methodological quality will be determined using the Risk Of Bias In Non-randomized Studies - of Exposures tool. Upon submission of this abstract, the screening process has started. Results will be presented at the conference.
Conclusions
It is hypothesized that this systematic review will identify important stimulating and hindering factors, both inherent but also modifiable, at home associated with MC. These findings will be useful to identify toddler subgroups at risk for lower MC levels and/or delays in MC development, and will help determine intervention components. Toddlers are a very important group to target since the developing brain is most sensitive to experiences and the environment in the first 3 years of life. As such, this systematic review will inform future interventions to counteract the decline in MC levels among toddlers.