The Charlop-Atwell Scale of Motor Coordination in Young Children

objective

does one jumping jack on first trial

6

does one jumping jack on second trial

4

does one jumping jack on third trial

2

unable to do 1 jumping jack

0

subjective precision of movement

arms raised and lowered, AND legs moved out and back together (not necessarily in synchrony)

2

arms raised and lowered, OR legs moved out and back together

1

failure to do either of the above

0

subjective smoothness and flow

continuous movements

2

slight pauses between jumping jacks

1

stops before each jumping jack to return to starting position, then proceeds

0

subjective flexibility

agile and bendable, not stiff and rigid

2

exhibition of tense and strained movements

1

jerky, robot-like movements

0

objective

jumps and lands directly facing the opposite direction

4

jumps but does not land directly facing the opposite direction

2

failure to turn facing opposite direction when jumping

0

subjective precision of movement

appears to land with both feet touching the ground at the same time

2

lands with one foot, obviously reaching the ground first, then followed by the other foot

1

steps back or falls when landing

0

subjective flexibility

arms relaxed

2

arms stiff and rigid

1

arms moved first before the body turns

0

objective

hops in place for 8 seconds without putting raised foot down

6

hops in place for 8 seconds with putting foot down only once after 4 seconds

4

puts foot down within the first 4 seconds

2

quits before 8 seconds

0

subjective precision of movement

hops relatively in 1 place without moving about

2

hops within area of 1 square foot

1

hops without staying in area of 1 square foot

0

subjective smoothness and flow

continuous hopping

2

slight pauses between hops or unclear about pauses

1

long pauses between hops

0

subjective flexibility

lands lightly on ground

2

unclear or lands moderately heavily on ground

1

lands heavily on ground

0

objective

alternates hand-hand, foot-foot (at least twice) on first trial of 5 foot distance to be walked

10

alternates hand-hand, foot-foot on first trial at least once

8

alternates hand-hand, foot-foot on second trial at least twice

6

alternates hand-hand, foot-foot once on second trial

4

shows some indication and attempts to move in sequence

2

cannot alternate hand-hand, foot-foot on any trial or crawls

0

subjective precision of movement

does not bend legs at the knees

2

bends knees some of the time

1

bends at the knees while walking

0

subjective smoothness and flow

none or slight pauses in between hand-hand, foot-foot sequences

2

long pauses of 3 seconds or more in between hand-hand, foot-foot sequences

1

falls in between or during sequences of hand-hand, foot-foot

0

subjective flexibility

child gets into position of all fours with legs straight quickly and easily

2

relatively easy for child to get into position of all fours

1

difficult for child to get into position on all fours

0

objective

does not drop arm and twirls in a moderately straight line; doesn't wander out of 4 foot wide area of imaginary straight line between child and observer

6

drops arm once and twirls on moderately straight line

4

drops arm more than once but twirls on a moderately straight line

2

drops arm more than once and/or can't twirl in a straight line

0

subjective precision of movement

twirls in complete circles facing initial direction

2

does not twirl in complete circle

1

failure to twirl

0

subjective smoothness and flow

not stopping between twirls

2

stopping between twirls

1

walking between twirls

0

subjective flexibility

while twirling the child shows very graceful movements, not stiff and rigid

2

child exhibits some tense and strained movements while twirling

1

ungraceful, rigid movements while twirling

0

objective

balances for 8 seconds without putting heels down

6

balances for 8 seconds putting heels down after 4 seconds

4

puts heels down within 4 seconds

2

quits before 8 seconds

0

subjective precision of movement

stands in 1 place without moving feet

2

moves feet after 4 seconds

1

moves feet within first 4 seconds

0

subjective smoothness and flow

exhibits no wobbling of any part of the body while balancing

2

exhibits wobbling after 4 seconds of balancing

1

exhibits wobbling within first 4 seconds

0

subjective flexibility

child quickly and easily gets on tiptoe on first attempt

2

child takes 2 attempts to get on tiptoes before balancing begins

1

child needs extra instructions on how to stand on tiptoe

0

4.0 years old

< 28 (7.1%)

54

4.5 years old

< 31 (5.9%)

64

5.0 years old

< 35 (8.3%)

63

5.5 years old

< 33 (3.7%)

66

6.0 years old

< 21 (3.3%)

68

4.0 years old

< 18 (5.9%)

59

4.5 years old

< 41 (6.7%)

62

5.0 years old

< 29 (5.3%)

66

5.5 years old

< 44 (4.5%)

71

6.0 years old

< 49 (3.8%)

68