The aim of the study was to apply a system of 17 variables to a sample of 147 children aged four years (±4 months), of which 9 variables of morphological characteristics, 7 variables of motor abilities and one variable of aerobic capacity, with the aim of determining the canonical relations between the systems of morphological and motor-functional variables within each system separately. The results obtained indicate a decline in morphological and motor-functional characteristics of four-year-olds in the last 10 years. Correlations suggest that children with increased body mass and larger skin folds have slightly worse motor and functional abilities, as well as that children with higher body height achieve worse results in coordination, but better in explosive leg strength and speed of alternative movements. The results of the canonical analysis showed that the first pair of canonical factors is 0.01, which indicates significant correlations between morphological variables and motor-functional variables, i.e. that children with a more harmonious physique will have better results in motor skills and aerobic endurance.

JEL Codes: I12, J13, Z13

Keywords: children, morphological characteristics, motor-functional characteristics, relations, connections.