TR

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