Motor development Flashcards
What is the traditional theory of motor development?
motor skills develop as voluntary movement centers of the brain “mature” and build upon reflexes
What evidence supports this theory?
- African mothers spend much time stretching and dangling their babies, this lead to more muscle strength in babies and early walking ages
- It is also necessary because African babies spend much time bundled up in clothes and strapped onto the mothers
- Variability in timing of milestones due to experience
What is the meant by the ‘dynamic systems’ approach to motor development?
- Biology, experience, and environmental factors interact to determine motor development
- Motor milestones achieved as multiple systems that are all developing at the same time come together
- Motor development has implications for other cognitive functions
In this approach what factors other than maturation interact to promote motor development?
EXPERIENCE!! Due to different cultures, environments, etc.
How does the case of the disappearing reflex inform the ‘dynamic systems’ approach to motor development?
if you hold a newborn or young baby upright, it will try to stand
-this disappears at 2 months
How does motor development create opportunities for learning?
- holding head erect allows new perspective on the world
- self-sitting allows new means of exploration with hands
- independent locomotion helps children learn the consequences of height
What evidence do visual cliff studies provide to support this view?
- novice crawler shows no expression of fear
- experienced crawler fear of heights