Physical development Flashcards
Motor development
the emergence of the ability to execute physical actions, undergoes significant improvement during infancy
Motor learning
the permanent change in performance as a result of practice & experience
Two reasons specifically why humans have such poorly developed motor skills:
Human infants are born with disproportionately large heads
Human locomotion is complex
Learning to walk on two legs requires a high degree of balance, co-ordination & strength
What is a reflex?
An unlearned response triggered by specific stimuli
Reflect the health of the nervous system, originate in the CNS
Other primates also have them
Growth and development occurs in two directions:
Proximodistal – from the centre outwards
Cephalocaudal – from head to toe
Divided into acquisition of gross and fine motor skills
Early Motor Milestones
0-3 months
Looking at and following faces (1-4 weeks)
Lift their head (4-12 weeks)
3-6 months
Reaching develops (3-5 months)
Able to hold objects (5months)
Start to make noises (4-6months)
6-9 months
Hand to eye co-ordination develops
Sitting without assistance
Responds to voice
9-12 months
Learn to drop and pass objects
Start crawling and pulling themselves up
Walk with assistance
12-18 months Walk unaided Start to feed themselves Recognise name & take an interest in words Learn to entertain self
18-24 months
Learn to kick and throw
Demonstrate bodily awareness
Saying words & talking in short sentences
Perceptual-motor development
Action and perception are interwoven
Co-ordinating actions with perceptual information – depends on sophisticated systems
Perceptual-motor skills develop from the earliest moments of infancy
When a motor skill is developed depends on:
Neural maturation Muscular maturation Experience Need opportunities to practice skills Cross-cultural studies also demonstrate differences Environment Social interaction Individual differences
developmental theories
The Maturational Account (e.g. Gesell; McGraw)
Dynamic Systems Theory (e.g. Bernstein; Thelen)
Erikson – Theory of Psychosocial development
Trust vs Mistrust (birth–1.5years)
Autonomy vs. Shame (1.5–3years)
Initiative vs. guilt (3–6years)
Piaget - Cognitive theory of development Sensorimotor stage (birth- 2years) Preoperational stage (2-7years)
