Rhythmic training, literacy, and graphomotor skills in kindergarteners
Abstract
Introduction: The aim of this manuscript is twofold: first, to investigate the
relationship between rhythmic, phonological and graphomotor skills in
kindergarten children; and second, to evaluate the possible impact of rhythmic
training on the two other skills.
Methods: To that end, we selected a sample of 78 children in Québec. Fortytwo children received rhythmic training (experimental group) and 34 arts training
(active control group) during the same period (10 weeks). Before and after training,
children in both groups were assessed for general skills (forward and backward
memory span, vocabulary, non-verbal ability), rhythmic skills (synchronization and
discrimination tasks), literacy skills (phonological skills - syllable counting, syllable
deletion, rhyme discrimination – and invented spelling skills) and graphomotor
skills (legibility of letter writing, quality of copying of geometric shapes).
Results: Results showed correlations between the child’s rhythmic and
literacy skills, as well as between rhythm synchronization and pen pressure.
In addition, rhythmic training showed improvement in rhythmic abilities, but
this did not transfer to literacy or graphomotor development (apart from a
significant increase in the duration of pauses in both groups at post-test, with
a larger improvement for the rhythm group).
Discussion: These results are discussed in terms of duration and intensity of
learning, and they highlight the possible benefits of informal rhythm practices
in the classroom.
Domains
Cognitive scienceOrigin | Publisher files allowed on an open archive |
---|