earticle

영어

Objective : The purpose of this study was to investigate the correlation between hand dexterity and visual-motor skills of preschoolers. We searched for the correlation between two test results, which were the 9-Hole Peg Test performance time and the visual motor integration test(VMI) performance score. Then, we also compared the 9-Hole Peg Test performance times with the VMI performance scores according to sex and age. Method : The participants were fifty normal children ranging in age from four to six years living in Busan. We used two test methods which have high reliability and validity. One was the 9-Hole Peg Test to evaluate hand dexterity, and the other was the VMI to the evaluate visual-motor skills of these young children. Results : First, over the entire range of the participating children, there was a high correlation between the performance times from the 9-Hole Peg Test and the VMI performance scores (r=-.682). Second, there was not a statistically significant difference between the performance times from the 9-Hole Peg Test and the VMI scores according to sex. Third, there were significant differences between the hand dexterity and visual-motor skills according to the children's age(p<.001). Conclusion : This study proved that there is high correlation between hand dexterity and visual-motor skills of the preschooler. Occupational therapists in preschool service should consider that visual-motor skills need to be compatible with hand dexterity in both evaluation and therapy. In addition, hand dexterity and visual-motor skills improved according to advances in age, so we must give graded tasks to proper age groups through concrete analysis of activity. By doing this, children can get the better therapeutic effects.