Fewer Toddlers Above the Norm? A Pilot Study on Supporting Motor Competence in Flemish Childcare and Its Practical Challenges

Motor competence (MC) development from an early age is crucial for fostering healthy developmental trajectories. However, recent evidence suggests a secular decline in MC from age three onward, whereas the status of MC in children under 3 years is scarcely documented. This pilot study assessed MC of Flemish toddlers relative to the benchmarks of the Peabody Developmental Motor Scales-Second Edition and evaluated the effectiveness of a 20-week intervention targeting locomotion, stationary skills, and object manipulation. A nonrandomized controlled trial was conducted in 12 Flemish daycare centers, with 104 toddlers (intervention: n = 54, control: n = 50; mean age = 19.9 ± 3.0 months). At baseline, results showed a significant leftward shift in MC profiles ( p < .001, Cramér’s V = .236) with fewer toddlers classified as above average or superior compared with the Peabody Developmental Motor Scales-Second Edition reference values. Regardless of toddlers’ sex, the intervention significantly improved locomotion ( p = .025; ) and stationary skills ( p = .007; ) but not object manipulation. Given the high daycare attendance rate in Flanders (>70%), these settings offer a valuable opportunity to foster MC development. However, interventions must be feasible, sustainable, and aligned with daycare practices to ensure long-term impact.