Author

Rowena C. Maneja*
Cebu Technological University-Main Campus, Cebu City, Philippines

Abstract

The investigation gauged the influence of social skills and play behavior on the motor skills development among preschoolers This study assessed the levels of social skills, play behavior, and motor skills and examined the relationships between these variables. A descriptive-correlational design was employed at Pablo B. Villamera Integrated School in Cebu Province division for school year 2025-2026. The motor, social, and play behaviors of 52 preschoolers were rated by their teachers using adopted survey questionnaires about their social skills, play behavior, and motor skills. Moreover, a total enumeration technique was used due to the small population, and the data were treated using descriptive statistics and Pearson’s r. Results showed that preschoolers demonstrated a very good level of social skills, play behavior, and motor skills in both gross and fine domains. A weak but significant positive relationship between the learners’ social skills and motor skills was found. Furthermore, there was no significant relationship between the play behavior and the motor skills of the learners. These findings suggest that social skills development play a crucial role in the motor skills development among young learners than play behavior. It is highly recommended that the proposed action plan, which integrates structures social interaction and guided motor activities into play-based learning be adopted aiming at enhancing the motor skills development among young learners.

Keywords: Early childhood education, social skills, play behavior, and motor skills, preschoolers, descriptive-correlational design, City of Naga, Philippines.

*Corresponding author / Email Address: rowena.maneja@deped.gov.ph
DOI: http://doi.org/10.69651/PIJHSS05021207

Recommended citation:
Maneja, R. C. (2026). Gauging the influence of social skills and play behavior on the motor skills development of preschoolers. Pantao (International Journal of the Humanities and Social Sciences) 5 (2), 5185-5206. http://doi.org/10.69651/PIJHSS05021207

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