Desempenho motor. Um estudo normativo e criterial em crian？as da Regi？o Autónoma da Madeira, Portugal

the main purpose of this study was to provide reference values for locomotor and object control skills in children from autonomous region of maderia, portugal. the sample involved 853 individuals, 426 boys and 427 girls, from 3 to 10 year old, which participated in the ？growth with health in autonomous region of maderia？. motor skills were assessed by the ？test of gross motor development？. madeira children presented improvements with age, in almost all the fundamental motor skills. the boys were a bit more proficient than girls on the object control skills. the largest number of madeira children was classified at the ？average？ category related to the locomotor (51, 5%) and object control skills (37, 7%). madeira children showed age equivalents bellow the average in locomotor (86.5%) and object control (87.7%) skills. increases on the mastery were observed for run, gallop, slide, stationary dribble and overhead throw. children from autonomous region of madeira presented lower results comparatively to north-american peers. our data should encourage the research and lead to the implementation of programmes in schools and other institutions with the purpose of promoting the normal growth and motor development of madeira children and youth.