Motor development

Question 1

What are the 3 main models of motor development?

Answer 1

Maturation Model
Dynamic Model
Neurogroup Model

Question 2

Why are humans born with less motor control than other animals?

Answer 2

Because they are born earlier in their development

Question 3

What does movement of ones self mean for the perception and possibilites of a baby? (crawling)

Answer 3

The baby can choose to explore and search for new input

This leads to a focus on things that are further away and the babies relation to them (interesting, obnoxious, bad, good,..)

Question 4

What governs babies movements at first right after birth?

Answer 4

Reflexes

Question 5

What are the most important newborn reflexes?

Answer 5

Rooting reflex
Suck reflex
Grasp reflex

Question 6

What is the rooting reflex?

Answer 6

It is the reflex, that when brushing the mouth or cheek, the baby will move their head to this direction
(only when hungry)

lasts 4 months

Question 7

What is the suck reflex?

Answer 7

It allows the baby to drink from the nipple

The baby stars sucking, when the lips are touched.
(only when hungry)

It develops around the 34th week of pregnancy.
-> premature babies might not have this

Question 8

What is the grasp reflex?

Answer 8

When stroking a babies palm, it will close the fingers and hold it.

It lasts 5-6 months.

(same effect exists in toes)

Question 9

What is a reflex?

Answer 9

An automatic (non conscious) action triggered by a stimulus

Question 10

What is the basis for gross motor skills to develop in babies?

Answer 10

They develop after the reflexes and often as a consequence of them

Question 11

What are important gross motor skills in a baby and their ages?

Answer 11

3m:
Holding up the head
Supporting with arms
head side to side movement

5-6m:
Rolling around

6-7m:
Sitting with arm support

9m:
Getting up from laying and sitting
Crawling

10m:
Walking with some support/help

11m:
Standing alone

18m:
Running (4-5 y perfected)

24m:
Using stairs

The variation of when these happen increases with age!

Question 12

What are fine motor skills?

Answer 12

Motor skills connected to the hands

Question 13

What is the maturation model of motor development?

Answer 13

It is one of the earliest models of motor development.

It assumes that every development is genetically determined and cannot be learned before the child is (neurological) mature enough

Experience can play a role, BUT only when a point of maturity is reached.

Question 14

What is the Dynamic model of motor development?

Answer 14

It looks at motor development as an interplay of:

Muscle development,
Experience,
Motor development,
Environment (Affordances),
Neurological development

-> All these parts are necessary though

Question 15

What is the neurogroup model of motor development?

Answer 15

It assumes that babies are born with certain neurological groups for certain functions (reflexes)

Selection Phase:
These are adapted through experience and selection.

Variation Phase:
Learned behaviour is adapted and refined (pruned)

Question 16

Which effects does atypical development of gross motor skills have on the child?

Answer 16

Exploration of the surroundings
Social participation
Safety

Question 17

Which effects does atypical development of fine motor skills have on the child?

Answer 17

Exploring objects
Building
Playing
Eating

Question 18

What are secondary effects of atypical motor development?

Answer 18

The child has a higher cognitive load when performing the activities, which could be used on something else instead.
This gives them a harder time participating (e.g. in sports)

If the child cannot participate in an activity, they might loose out on for example cognitive, language, social and emotional development

Question 19

What are typical fine motor milestones in development?

Answer 19

Grasping Reflex (Newborn): Newborns have a grasping reflex that allows them to instinctively grasp objects placed in their palms.

Palmar Grasp (0-6 months): Infants begin to intentionally grasp objects using their entire palm. They may also swipe at objects within their reach.

Raking Grasp (6-9 months): Babies start using their fingers to rake or scrape objects toward them. This marks the beginning of finger dexterity development.

Pincer Grasp (9-12 months): By the end of their first year, most infants can use their thumb and forefinger to pick up small objects, like cereal or small toys.

Stacking Blocks (12-18 months): Toddlers can stack two or three blocks on top of each other. This activity enhances hand-eye coordination and precision.

Scribbling (2-3 years): Most children start scribbling with crayons or markers around the age of 2. This is an early form of writing development.

Using tools at age of 2 (spoon, toothbrush,…)

Cutting with Scissors (3-4 years): Around age 3 or 4, children can typically use scissors to cut along lines or shapes. This requires hand strength and coordination.

Drawing Basic Shapes (3-4 years): Children begin drawing simple shapes like circles and squares. This is an important step in developing pre-writing skills.

Dressing Skills (3-5 years): Kids learn to manipulate buttons, zippers, and snaps, which require finger dexterity and hand-eye coordination.

Tying Shoelaces (4-6 years): Tying shoelaces is a complex fine motor skill

Writing (4-7 years): Writing letters and numbers becomes more controlled and legible. Initially, it may be large and uneven, but it improves over time.

Coloring Inside Lines (4-6 years): Children develop the ability to color within the lines, showing improved hand-eye coordination and fine motor control.

Building with Small Blocks (4-6 years): Children can build more complex structures using small building blocks like LEGO, enhancing their spatial awareness and fine motor skills.

Handwriting Fluency (6-7 years and beyond): By the end of the first grade, children should demonstrate increasingly neat and legible handwriting skills.

Question 20

Why is learning to walk important for child development?

Answer 20

It leads to autonomy.
It is the so called psychological birth
It coincides with self-awareness

The interactions between caregiver and child become more intense:
Temper tantrums, parental anger, affection,…

(But not self-conscious yet)

Question 21

What does the visual cliff experiment show?

Answer 21

It shows that children develop a fear of hights when they begin to crawl.

This has to be learned again, when walking.