The Level of Motor Skills and Social Skills Among Mild Mental Disability (Educable) and Its Relationship to Demographic Variables

Abstract

The study aimed to reveal the relationship between motor skills and social skills in mentally disabled children who are learning (educable) and relation to demographic variables (gender Male/Female - age). The study sample consisted of a simple random sample of mentally disabled students who are capable of learning in Gezira State- Central Sudan. The number of sample members was (65) male and female students, representing (44.52%), including 33 females and 32 males. The social skills assessment scale for mentally disabled children who are capable of learning (Educable), prepared by Mubarak, Sarah (2016), and the motor skills scale prepared by Weiland were used. Its translate and applied in Arabic by Al-Otaibi, Bandar, (2004), the data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), The study reached the following results: The level of motor skills among mentally disabled children who are capable of learning is low. There is a statistically significant relationship between motor skills and social skills at an average level. There are statistically significant differences due to gender (males/females) in motor skills and social skills in favor of females. There are statistically significant differences at the level of (0.05) in motor skills and social skills among mentally disabled children who are capable of learning due to older age. There are no statistically significant differences between males and females in motor skills among mentally disabled children who are capable of learning. There are no statistically significant differences between mentally disabled people who are capable of learning regarding motor skills due to age. The study recommends implementing an integration system between the mentally disabled and normal children because integration has great benefits in developing motor and social abilities, and also activating extracurricular activities, especially the following: physical exercises, providing schools and special education institutes with training tools and a physical education specialist to develop motor skills.