This thesis describes motor abilites and their specific characteristics of preschool children. Motoric development has a critical influence on the progress of other developmental areas in early childhood; the lack of motoric activities cannot be developed and compensated in later developmental stages. Play, as an intrinsic and essential need of children, allows movement, motor learning and using of acquired skills in response to environment challenges. Motoric play promotes development of gross motor skills, so it is very important to encourage active movement and development of motoric skills since the earliest years in life. The research conducted in Kindergarten in Zagreb was conducted on a sample of 37 preschool children. The objective was to assess motor abilities in children and to investigate if there are any statistically significant differences in motor abilities between boys and girls. Five motoric tests were used to measure variables in performance. The results which were presented in tables and graphs, and interpreted, in general did not show statistically significant gender differences in performance. However, in testing of explosive strength measurements of boys has shown statistically significant results in comparison with those of girls.