OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate psychomotor functions in 86 children, ages six to ten years old, male or female who were enrolled in elementary education in one institution in the south region of the city of São Paulo, Brazil. METHODS: This was a descriptive study that used a structured instrument to gather data on the following functions: motor (fine and gross); perception; corporal posture and balance corporal; space adaptation; visual and tactile memory; right and left discriminations; writing; rhythm; and concentration; and lateral dominance. RESULTS: The majority of children were able to carry out fine motor activities without difficulty. Only one group presented immaturity to carry out those fine motor activities. All groups demonstrated good performance regarding: gross motor coordination, posture and balance corporal, visual and tactile memory, and spontaneous rhythm. However, some children had difficulty in space adaptation and spatial orientation, codified rhythm; and writing due to the irregular size of the graphical forms. Finally, a great proportion of children, three quarters had a well defined lateral dominance.
Psychomotor performance; Child; Child development