Typical Motor Development Study Notes
Learning Objectives
Explain OT Frames of Reference and Developmental Theories
Supporting typical development.
Identify Factors Influencing Development
Discussing their impact on occupational performance.
Recognize Typical Developmental Patterns Across Early Childhood
Importance of understanding these patterns.
Describe Developmental Progression from Embryology Through Early Childhood
Areas to cover:
Gross motor
Fine motor
Cognitive
Social-emotional
Oral-motor
Activities of Daily Living (ADL) skills.
Apply Developmental Milestone Knowledge
To occupational analysis and early identification of developmental delays.
What to Expect
Focused topics to be discussed:
Frames of Reference & Developmental Theories
**Neural Maturation
Cognitive
Dynamic Systems Theory
Biological Model of Development**
Foundations of Development
Embryology
Sensory Development
Motor Development
Reflexes**
Developmental Milestones
Gross motor
Fine motor
Oral-motor/feeding
Sensory-based development
Communication skills
Dressing skills
Play skills.
Frames of Reference & Developmental Theories
Neural Maturation
Motor Skills Development
Develops in a systematic order as the central nervous system matures.
Influencing factors: No Environmental Influence.
Reflexes
Serve as foundational elements for development.
Bobath (NDT)
Emphasizes a hierarchical progression of motor control.
Notes: Abnormal tone or reflexes can disrupt functional movement.
Sensory Integration
ROOD
Indicates that sensory stimulation influences motor responses based on motor control development.
Sensory inputs:
Tactile
Thermal
Proprioceptive
Poor sensory processing can hinder adaptive motor responses.
Cognitive: Behavioral
Development Influences
Driven by biology and shaped through experiences.
Watson (Classical Conditioning)
Behavior shaped through associations:
Stimuli evoke reflexive responses.
Skinner (Operant Conditioning)
Behavior shaped by consequences:
Reinforcement increases behavior
Punishment decreases behavior.
Compare Classical and Operant Conditioning
Classical Conditioning: Involuntary response paired with stimulus,
Operant Conditioning: Associates voluntary behavior and consequence.
Cognitive: Piagetian
Cognitive Development and Motor Exploration
Cognitive learning occurs through four stages:
Sensorimotor (0-2)
Object permanence
Knowledge through sensory experience.
Preoperational (2-7)
Symbolic thinking
Egocentric perspective.
Imaginative play with tools.
Concrete Operational (7-11)
Logical thinking about concrete events.
Improved coordination for multistep tasks.
Reasoning shifts from specifics to general principles.
Formal Operational (12+)
Abstract, hypothetical thinking,
visualized outcomes, and problem-solving skills.
Cognitive: Motor Learning
Task Types
Closed Task vs Open Task
Closed Task
Simple complexity,
Little internal variability,
No object manipulation.
Open Task
Higher complexity,
In motion,
Internal variability,
Involves object manipulation.
Learning Stages:
1: Recall
2: Recognition
3: Adaptation.
Dynamic Systems Theory
Different Elements in Development
Acknowledges that various subsystems contribute equally to development.
Key Concepts:
Deviations may occur due to external influences.
Unique and non-transferable factors contribute to skill development.
Variety in movement patterns supports new skill challenges.
Limits in movement strategies can disadvantage children with disabilities.
Neuronal Group Selection Theory:
"Use it or lose it"
Distinguishes between "hardware" (neurons) and "software" (motor programs).
Repeated actions create responsive motor patterns.
Diverse activities encourage better differentiated responses.
Perception-Action Theory:
Movement enhances environmental understanding:
Nothing can be perceived without actions leading to learning about the environment.
Ecological Theory:
Movements are planned in relation to environment understanding.
Biological Model of Development
Views development as a reciprocal relationship between the child and environment.
Layered Context of Development:
Individual Child:
Age, Diagnosis, Development Roles.
Caregivers:
Parents, Pets, Physical Home Context.
Family Context:
Siblings, Extended Family, Culture, Religious Contexts.
Community:
Schools, Activities, Physical environments, Neighbors.
Geopolitical Contexts:
Government Policies, Healthcare, IDEA, Climate Change.
Developmental Milestones Overview
0-3 Months
Gross Motor
Supine:
Turns head.
Kicks reciprocally.
Tucks chin.
Prone:
Lifts head to clear airway,
~45 degrees by end of month two.
Fine Motor
Newborn:
Spontaneous arm movements,
Reflexive hand-to-mouth,
Strong grasp reflex,
Briefly holds objects.
Feeding
Latches onto nipple or bottle,
Tongue moves for sucking action,
Drinks 2-6 oz/feeding, 6x daily.
Sensory Development
Beginning to visually track moving toys in supine,
Enjoys movements,
Reacts to gentle sounds,
Maintains head midline watching faces.
Communication
Eye-contact initiation,
Different cries for needs,
Coos and responds to other sounds.
4-6 Months
Gross Motor
Supine:
Holds head inline during pull-to-sit.
Hands to knees/feet
Prone:
Presses onto forearms, lifts chest,
Assuming quadruped position by 6M.
Fine Motor
Purposeful reaching with both hands,
Strong hand-to-mouth pattern,
Transfers objects between hands,
Shakes and bangs toys.
Feeding
Begins transition to real food,
Tries to hold bottle,
Desires greater independence in self-feeding.
Sensory Development
Uses hands for exploration,
Regulates through gentle sounds,
Happy when not hungry.
Communication
Begins consonant sounds,
Uses babbling for attention,
Follows simple sounds and reacts to noises.
7-9 Months
Gross Motor
Prone:
Belly crawls.
Sitting:
Sits independently.
Mobility:
Rolls from supine to prone,
Pulls to stand.
Fine Motor
Reaches in all directions,
Pokes with index finger,
Experiments with object grasping.
Feeding
Diagonal jaw movements introduced,
Draws reactions to new tastes,
Enjoys chew toys.
Sensory Development
Explores environments using both hands and mouth,
Observes surroundings from differing positions.
Communication
Imitates sounds,
Uses increased syllable variety in babbling,
Indicates recognition of their name.
10-12 Months
Gross Motor
Sitting:
Pivots,
Sits on a stool,
Throws objects while maintaining balance.
Mobility:
Creeps,
Pulls to stand,
Walks with assistance.
Fine Motor
Pincer grasp development,
Releases objects into containers,
Pushes, pulls, squeezes, and rotates items.
Feeding
Rotary chewing,
Initiates self-feeding with utensils,
Drinks from cups.
Sensory Development
Enjoys listening to music,
Explores toys using hands.
Communication
Uses meaningful words like "mama"/"dada",
Imitates sounds and babbling rhythms,
Responds to simple directions.
13-18 Months
Gross Motor
Stands momentarily,
Walks with support,
Climbs stairs with help.
Fine Motor
Stacks two blocks,
Begins to scribble,
Points to objects.
Feeding
Drinks from an open cup,
Starts self-feeding with increased skill.
Sensory Development
Consistent sleep patterns,
Accepts various food textures.
Communication
Indicates 5-10 words,
Imitates actions,
Follows simple one-step directions.
Continued Developmental Milestones from 19-24 Months to 5-7 Years
Patterns include increasing complexity in gross motor, fine motor, communication abilities, and self-feeding skills.
Play Development
Play Stages by Age:
0-2 Years: Solitary Play
2-2.5 Years: Spectator Play
2.5-3 Years: Parallel Play
3-4 Years: Associate Play
4-6 Years: Cooperative Play
References
Include various sources that have contributed to understanding motor development:
Books by authors like Ayres, Bobath, etc.
Articles from educational platforms.
Websites detailing developmental tracking and educational milestones.
Thank You
For any further questions, contact Chelsea Simcox - chelsea.simcox@advocatehealth.org.