Week 2- Motor Development Flashcards
What’s the Dynamic Systems Theory (DST) approach
- Dynamic: Changes over time
- System: Many elements interacting
DST emphasises multiple cause of motor development e.g.
- Increases in strength and weight
- Balance
- Neural mechanisms
- Motivation
Milestones of motor development from birth to 5 months
- Stepping reflex
- Bounce when held upright
- Mini push ups during tummy time
Milestones of motor development from 6 to 10 months
- Sit up
- Crawl
- Cruise
- Stand with support
Milestones of motor development from 9 to 15 months
- Pull to a stand
- Stand unsupported
- Take first steps
Milestones of motor development from 16 to 18 months
- Dance
- Climb stairs with help
- Walk backward
Milestones of motor development from 2 years
- Run
- Kick a ball
- Jump from low step
Examples of fine motor skills
- Smaller muscles
- Grasping
- Object manipulation
- Drawing
Gross motor skills
- Large muscles
- Sitting
- Crawling
- Walking
- Reaching
When does stepping reflex “disappear”
Around 2 months old
Why does stepping reflex “disappear”
Rapid weight gain causes legs to get heavier faster than stronger
Infants need what to guide attention
Figure/ground segregation
Sitting may be related to
Perceiving depth
Reaching becomes stable after
Independent sitting
What is variable timing
Need all components to “assemble” into a successful reach
A not B test
- Hide toy in A, infant finds x6
- Hide toy in B, infant searches A
DST explanation for A not B
Attractors, motor memory, preservation
If you change posture between trials, errors are reduced
At around 8 months infants become capable of
Self-locomotion (crawl)
Motor skills are dependent on
Context
Does knowledge transfer from crawling to walking?
No
Does falling alter subsequent behaviour?
No
Are adolescents more or less likely to risk road safety with friends rather than alone
More likely to take riskier gaps with a friend
Motor development is a __ process
Ongoing
Motor experience is related to
Language
