OBJECTIVE: To investigate the influence of using cognitive strategies for directing attention (learning cues) on the development of body awareness in children with motor deficiencies. METHOD: Twenty-two children of both sexes, aged 7 to 10 years, were selected based on their similar functional characteristics and were divided randomly into two groups: cue group (n= 11) and no cue group (n= 11). The cue group followed a methodological sequence in which attention was directed using learning cues, while the no cue group followed a different sequence, in which there was no directing of attention. These programs were followed for two weeks, with two sessions of 50 minutes each per week. Pre, post and retention tests were applied using the following instruments: body part identification test, kinetic perception test and critical body part perception test. Multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) and the Tukey multiple comparisons test were used to analyze possible significant differences. RESULTS: The results indicated significant differences (p< 0.01), with superior performance by the cue group in the variables of kinetic perception and critical body part perception. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that selectivity of attention may contribute towards the development of body awareness in children with motor deficiency.
learning; attention; movement perception; disabled children
