Case Study: How 12 Weeks of Music-Movement Improved Gross Motor Scores in Preschoolers

Understanding Gross Motor Development in Early Childhood

Gross motor development encompasses the child’s ability to use large muscle groups to perform coordinated movements like running, jumping, balancing, and climbing. Between ages 2-4, children experience rapid advancement in these skills, moving from basic walking to more complex physical achievements.

During this critical window, children typically master fundamental movements that become the building blocks for later physical activities and sports. According to developmental milestones, by age 3, most children should be able to run smoothly, climb well, pedal a tricycle, and throw a ball. By age 4, they should demonstrate improved balance, hop on one foot, catch a bounced ball, and coordinate more complex movements.

However, modern lifestyles often limit opportunities for diverse movement experiences. Research indicates that approximately 32% of preschoolers in urban environments like Singapore show delays in at least one gross motor skill area, often due to limited physical play spaces and increased screen time. This developmental gap can impact not just physical abilities but also cognitive development, as motor skills and cognitive functions develop in tandem during these formative years.

Music-movement integration offers a solution that addresses these challenges while creating an engaging, multisensory learning environment. When children respond physically to musical cues, they practice timing, spatial awareness, bilateral coordination, and cross-body movements – all essential components of robust gross motor development.

Case Study Methodology: The 12-Week Music-Movement Program

Our case study followed 28 children between 24 and 47 months who participated in a structured 12-week program specifically designed to enhance gross motor development through musical engagement. The program was conducted at The Music Scientist’s Singapore facility, with sessions held twice weekly for 45 minutes each.

The curriculum integrated elements from our Happyfeet program for 18-month-olds and toddlers and our Groovers music and dance classes, with specific adaptations focused on gross motor skill enhancement. Each session followed a consistent structure:

Program Structure

The 45-minute sessions were carefully structured to progress from simple to complex movements:

• Welcome and Warm-up (5 minutes): Rhythmic movements that prepared the body through simple marching, clapping, and full-body stretches
• Guided Exploration (10 minutes): Targeted activities focusing on specific gross motor skills like balance, coordination, or spatial awareness
• Musical Storytelling (15 minutes): Narrative-based movement where children physically interpreted stories through coordinated movements
• Instrument Play and Movement (10 minutes): Coordination exercises combining simple instrument play with whole-body movement
• Cool Down and Reflection (5 minutes): Gentle movements and breathing exercises to regulate energy levels

The program incorporated originally composed music with specific tempos and rhythmic patterns designed to facilitate particular movement types. For example, marching songs maintained a steady beat at 100-120 BPM to support coordinated walking, while jumping activities used music with clear accents that signaled when to jump.

Props and equipment including scarves, balance beams, hoops, balls, and rhythm sticks were introduced systematically to challenge different aspects of gross motor development. Importantly, the curriculum was progressive, with each week building upon skills from previous sessions while introducing new challenges.

Assessment Methods for Measuring Gross Motor Skills

To establish a baseline and track progress objectively, we employed multiple assessment methods before the program began and after its completion at 12 weeks:

Standardized Motor Assessments

Children were evaluated using an age-appropriate adaptation of the Peabody Developmental Motor Scales (PDMS-2), focusing specifically on the gross motor components. This standardized tool assessed:

• Stationary skills (balance and stability)
• Locomotion (running, jumping, hopping)
• Object manipulation (throwing, catching, kicking)

Each child received scores that were compared to age-appropriate norms, allowing for standardized comparison between pre-program and post-program abilities. Additionally, trained observers conducted structured observations during free-play sessions, recording instances of specific motor behaviors using a checklist format. Parents also completed weekly progress journals, noting any changes in physical abilities or confidence observed at home.

To ensure assessment reliability, two independent evaluators scored each child’s performance, with an inter-rater reliability coefficient of 0.91, indicating strong consistency between evaluators.

Key Findings: Significant Improvements in Gross Motor Scores

The 12-week music-movement program yielded significant improvements across all measured gross motor domains. Statistical analysis revealed:

Overall Motor Proficiency

The average gross motor standard score increased from 96.3 to 108.7 (an improvement of 12.4 points), representing a shift from the 39th to the 73rd percentile when compared to age-appropriate norms. This improvement was statistically significant (p<0.01).

Specific Skill Improvements

When broken down by skill category, the data revealed:

• Balance and Stability: 78% of participants showed improved balance abilities, with the average time maintaining balance on one foot increasing by 4.2 seconds
• Locomotion Skills: 82% demonstrated more coordinated running patterns, with 91% showing improved jumping abilities (average vertical jump height increased by 2.3 cm)
• Coordination and Object Control: 73% of children improved in ball-throwing accuracy, and 69% showed better catching abilities

Notably, children who began the program with below-average scores showed the most dramatic improvements, with an average increase of 15.8 points on standardized measures, suggesting the program was particularly beneficial for those with initial motor challenges.

Parent reports corroborated these findings, with 86% of parents noting observable improvements in their child’s physical confidence and willingness to attempt new physical challenges at home or on playgrounds. Many parents (67%) specifically mentioned improved balance and coordination in everyday activities.

How Music Enhances Movement Patterns and Coordination

The remarkable improvements observed in our case study can be attributed to several key mechanisms through which music facilitates motor development:

Temporal Processing and Motor Planning

Music provides a structured temporal framework that helps children organize their movements. The predictable beats in our specially composed music created anticipatory cues that helped children plan and execute movements with improved timing. This connection between auditory processing and motor planning strengthens neural pathways essential for coordinated movement.

In our Tenderfeet infant care classes, we introduce these concepts in their simplest forms, but by the age of our case study participants (24-47 months), children can engage with increasingly complex rhythmic patterns, allowing for more sophisticated motor planning.

Cross-Body Movements and Bilateral Integration

Many of our music-movement activities deliberately incorporated cross-lateral movements – actions that cross the body’s midline. These movements are crucial for developing connections between the brain’s hemispheres. When children performed movements like crossing arms to opposite knees while following musical cues, they strengthened neural pathways that support coordination and balanced development.

The brain processes different aspects of music in various regions, and when combined with movement, creates a rich network of neural connections. Research in neurodevelopment suggests that these connections formed during early childhood create foundations for both physical and cognitive abilities that persist throughout life.

Our Scouts program, which fosters love for science through catchy melodies, complements this approach by engaging children’s cognitive understanding of their bodies in space, enhancing body awareness alongside physical development.

Parent Observations and Feedback

Beyond the quantitative improvements measured in our assessments, parent feedback provided valuable insights into how these motor skill developments translated to everyday life:

Physical Confidence and Risk-Taking

“Before the program, Mei was hesitant to try the climbing frame at the playground, always asking for help. By week 8, she was confidently climbing independently and even helping her younger friends.” – Parent of 3-year-old participant

This observation was consistent across 79% of parent reports, noting increased willingness to attempt physically challenging activities that would have previously caused hesitation. This suggests that improved motor skills directly impact confidence and self-efficacy.

Transfer to Daily Activities

Parents reported improvements in everyday movement patterns, with 72% noting better coordination during routine activities like:

• Navigating stairs with alternating feet rather than two-foot stepping
• Successfully pouring from containers without spilling
• Improved precision when dressing themselves
• Better balance when putting on shoes while standing

These practical applications highlight how the structured music-movement activities translated into functional improvements in daily living skills – a key indicator of developmental progress.

Social Benefits

An unexpected finding from parent reports was the social impact of improved motor skills. 63% of parents mentioned that their children showed increased interest in physically active play with peers, with better turn-taking and cooperative movement games. This suggests that motor confidence may serve as a foundation for social confidence in early childhood play settings.

Long-Term Benefits of Early Music-Movement Integration

While our case study focused on immediate improvements over 12 weeks, research suggests that early music-movement integration offers significant long-term advantages:

Neurological Foundations

The neural connections formed through music-movement activities during ages 2-4 create foundations for later academic learning. Studies show that children with strong early gross motor skills often demonstrate better:

• Reading readiness and handwriting abilities
• Mathematical spatial reasoning
• Attention regulation and focus
• Working memory capacity

These connections illustrate why our SMART-START English and SMART-START Chinese programs incorporate movement elements – they prepare children not just physically but cognitively for later academic challenges.

Physical Activity Patterns

Children who develop strong gross motor skills and positive associations with movement in early childhood are more likely to maintain physically active lifestyles. In a society facing increasing childhood sedentary behavior and related health concerns, establishing these early patterns can have lifelong health implications.

Follow-up assessments conducted with participants from previous cohorts (6-12 months after program completion) showed that 84% maintained their improved motor skills, with many continuing to advance beyond expected developmental trajectories.

Implementing Music-Movement Activities at Home

Parents can extend and reinforce the benefits observed in our case study by incorporating simple music-movement activities at home:

Creating a Movement-Friendly Home Environment

Even in Singapore’s space-conscious living arrangements, families can create movement-friendly spaces by:

• Designating a small “movement corner” with a non-slip mat where music-movement activities can happen safely
• Using pillows, cushions, and soft furniture to create simple obstacle courses
• Providing scarves, bean bags, or soft balls that can be used with music for throwing and catching practice

Simple Activities to Try

These parent-child activities require minimal space and equipment:

• Freeze Dance: Play music and encourage dancing, then pause it randomly for children to practice balance by freezing in position
• Rhythm Walking: Walk, march, or tiptoe to different tempos, helping children match their movements to changing musical speeds
• Song Actions: Use songs with specific movement instructions like “Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes” to practice body awareness and coordination

Consistency is key – even 10-15 minutes of daily music-movement activities can help reinforce the neural connections established during structured programs. We encourage parents to view these not as additional tasks but as joyful bonding opportunities that simultaneously support development.

Conclusion: The Science Behind Music and Motor Development

Our 12-week case study demonstrates that structured music-movement integration isn’t simply a fun activity – it’s a powerful developmental tool that produces measurable improvements in gross motor skills. The significant gains observed across balance, coordination, and physical confidence highlight the effectiveness of this approach during the critical early childhood period.

What makes music-movement integration particularly valuable is its holistic nature. Unlike isolated physical exercises, it engages multiple developmental domains simultaneously – physical, cognitive, social, and emotional – creating rich learning experiences that align perfectly with how young children naturally learn and develop.

At The Music Scientist, we continue to refine our understanding of how musical elements can be precisely calibrated to support specific developmental outcomes. This case study reinforces our approach of using music not just as entertainment but as a scientific tool for nurturing young minds and bodies during their most formative years.

For parents seeking comprehensive development for their children, music-movement programs offer a research-backed approach that delivers measurable results while creating joyful, engaging experiences that children eagerly anticipate. As Singapore’s education landscape increasingly recognizes the importance of holistic development, such programs provide valuable foundations for both immediate developmental gains and long-term learning success.