The Relationship Between a Sedentary Lifestyle and Gross and Fine Motor Development in Children Aged 2–12 Years: A Literature Review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24114/5g4yn746Abstract
Children spend more time in front of screens every year, and more of that time sitting still. Between ages 2 and 12, gross and fine motor skills take shape and later affect how children move and relate to others. This narrative literature review examines how a sedentary lifestyle, screen time above all, relates to motor development in children aged 2 to 12 years. We searched Google Scholar, PubMed, ScienceDirect, Wiley Online Library, and national journal portals using Indonesian and English keywords: “sedentary behaviour,” “screen time,” “motor development,” “gross motor skills,” “fine motor skills,” and “children.” Screening ran in three stages: keyword identification, title and abstract reading, then full-text checks against the inclusion criteria (empirical studies or reviews linking sedentary behavior, screen time, or physical activity to motor development, in children aged 2–12 years, published 2021–2025). Seventeen articles passed and were synthesized narratively by age group and type of sedentary behavior. Longer screen time went with weaker gross and fine motor outcomes, most clearly in early childhood, though correlations ran from weak to moderately strong. Physical activity and active play protected motor development. The link was uneven, however: it shifted with the content, duration, and context of device use, and some studies found no significant association or a small benefit from interactive use. Motivation and self-confidence kept children moving, and the COVID-19 pandemic showed how quickly motor skills slip. We recommend keeping screen time within health guidelines, scheduling regular play in early childhood, and running longitudinal studies with standardized motor assessments.
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