Motor Development

Introduction

• Reflexes phase out as higher skills take over
• Babies learn to perceive and respond to environment around them
• Motor development is dynamic and multisensory process
• Divided into gross and fine motor skill development

Gross Motor Skills

• Gross motor skills: motor skills that invoke large-muscle activities.
    * Development of posture.
    * Learning to walk.
    * Involve arms, legs, head, torso in babies
• First-year gross milestones culminate with walking steadily.
• Development in the second year:
    * More independent; increased mobile: pull toys, climb stairs.
    * Natural exercise: walk quickly, run stiffly.

Fine Motor Skills

• Fine motor skills: motor skills that involve small muscles; finely tuned movements
    * Finger dexterity (thumb and forefinger).
    * Two types of grasps: palmar and pincer.
    * Wrists and hands turn and rotate more.
• Experience plays a significant role.
• Developmental milestones: Fine Motor Ages 0 – 2
    * 0-3 months
      * Brings hands to mouth
      * Moves arms
      * May swing arms at toys
      * Hands start to open more
    * 3-6 months
      * Holds small object in hand (without thumb tucked in hand)
      * Holds hands together
      * Reaches for toys with both arms
      * Pushes up on arms when on tummy
      * Briefly holds a toy like a rattle
      * Follows objects with eyes in all directions
    * 6-9 months
      * Shakes and bangs rattles
      * Brings toys to mouth
      * Uses a raking grasp
      * Transfers objects from one hand to the other
      * Keeps hands open and relaxed most of the time
      * Starting to have the ability to pick up small foods like Cheerios
    * 9-12 months
      * Able to release an object voluntarily
      * Gives toy to a caregiver when asked
      * Bangs two toys together
      * Turns pages of a book a few pages at a time
      * Begins to put objects into a container
      * Points to objects
      * Stacks 2 blocks
    * 12-18 months
      * Claps hands together
      * Puts objects and toys into containers
      * Waves goodbye
      * Uses both hands to play
      * Can isolate index finger with other fingers closed
      * Scribbles with a crayon
      * Beginning to use a spoon and cup
    * 18-24 months
      * Can build a block tower using 3-4 blocks
      * Puts rings on a ring stacker
      * Turns pages of a book one at a time
      * Begins holding crayons with finger tips and thumbs