Motor Development in Children

Test 1

Infants

* movement during this period is perhaps more crucial than at any other time for brain movement
* object permanence
* speech (sounds)
* Give positive verbal reinforcement-strengthens brain activity, causes repetition
* Variety of Sensory experiences

Games for Infants

* Pat-a-cake
* This Little Piggy
* Reaching and kicking opportunities
* Ball play
* Music movement
* Pushing and pulling
* Peek-a-boo
* Games to encourage crawling
* Bubbles

Toddlers (18-36 months) Development Characteristics

* Language
* Spatial relationships
* Social play
* Imagination
* Need positive feedback
* running, jumping, climbing, kicking
* Constant motion
* Short attention span

Toddlers Movement Characteristics

* Constant motion
* Short attention span
* Need attention-getter
* Movement in the morning=best energy
* 20-30 minutes long
* Plan more content than you need
* Activities and instructions need to be brief
* Open and close the lesson in the same way everytime

Games for Toddlers

* Body Awareness (key)
* Simon Says-omit simon
* Up and Down
* Ring around the Rosie
* Obstacle Course
* Making faces
* Move like animals
* Follow the Leader
* If you’re happy and you know it
* Fingerplays
* Tossing
* Rolling
* Jumping

Preschoolers (3-5 yrs)

Developmental Characteristics

* Words/word play
* Attention span lengthens
* Curiosity
* Spatial concepts
* Parallel, associative, cooperative play
* rules
* make believe
* fears, emotional extremes
* 4-5 years practice taking turns
* Gallop, hop, skip, increased balance and manipulative skills

What is developmentally appropriate practice?

a developmentally appropriate movement curriculum can give children the practice and instruction necessary to refine their movement skills and expand their movement vocabularies.