Motor Development

Dynamic Systems Theory (DST)

A framework understanding motor development as emerging from the interaction of multiple elements, rather than solely from neurological maturation.

Dynamic

Change over time.

System

Interaction of multiple elements.

Multiple Causes of Motor Development

Factors contributing to motor development include increases in strength and weight, neural mechanisms, posture control, perceptual skills, and motivation.

Process of Motor Skill Development

Motor skills emerge through curiosity, experimentation, and learning, rather than according to a fixed timeline.

Milestones

Motor development benchmarks that children reach through varied routes, not fixed sequences.

Attractors

Common points that most children achieve in development, though paths to reach them vary.

Fine Motor Skills

Skills involving small muscle groups, such as grasping, object manipulation, and drawing.

Gross Motor Skills

Skills involving large muscle groups, such as sitting, crawling, walking, and running.

Stepping Reflex

An early reflex in newborns showing alternating leg movements resembling walking, which disappears around 2 months due to weight gain outpacing leg strength

Sitting Independently

A motor milestone that enhances reaching abilities, perception, and figure-ground recognition, aiding depth perception and planning movements.

Soft Assembly

The combination of factors (stable base, goal location, and arm control) enabling successful reaching.

Sticky Mittens Experiment

A study showing that providing infants with sticky mittens accelerates reaching and grasping development.

A-Not-B Task

A task testing object permanence where infants often search in the original location (A) despite the object being moved to a new location (B), influenced by motor memory and past attention

Locomotion and Walking

Crawling begins around 8 months, followed by walking at 13-14 months; falling during early walking provides valuable learning experiences.

Fear of Heights

Debate exists about whether crawling is necessary for infants to develop a fear of heights.

Road Crossing and Risks

Children aged 6-10 show slower road entry and riskier gap choices compared to adults. Adolescents take more risks when crossing roads with friends.

Motor Skills and Language Development

The emergence of motor milestones (e.g., sitting, walking) correlates with vocabulary development, and physical activity can enhance learning and memory in older children.