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

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