Factors Affecting Motor Development

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Factors Affecting Motor Development

• Factors within the Individual

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General Motor Development

• Developmental direction (Gesell, 1954)
• 1. Cephalocaudal
• 2. Proximodistal
• 3. Differentiation
• 4. Integration
• Reverses with age
• Phylogeny and Ontogeny

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Phylogeny

• Phylogeny - (Motor Development)
• Maturation
• Sequence
• Phylogenetic skills
• Environment?

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Ontogeny

• Ontogeny - (Motor Learning)
• Ontogenetic skills
• Environment?

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Factors within the Environment
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Effects of Early Stimulation and Deprivation

• Movement Implications

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What are some reasons for the rush to stimulate?

• Age of Parents
• Work
• Competition
• Knowledges

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Stimulation

• Good or Bad?
• Head Start Programs
• Infant Walkers
• Bolsters and other supports
• New Research Windows of Opportunity

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Stimulation

• New ideas on early brain development
• Neuronal Development and wiring (synapses)
• Main circuitry pre-wired prenatally (heredity)
• Complete architecture of the brain (experience)
• Experience strengthens synapses
• Stimulation from environment connections
• Weak or unmade connections - pruned away

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Stimulation Best Practices

• Good or Bad?
• AAP Suggestions
• Professor Suggestions

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Stimulation Suggestions

• Early in life (windows of opportunity)
• Cooperative efforts
• Basic gross motor activities (before 2)
• Sensory-motor experiences

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Effects of Early Deprivation

• Type, length, time, and severity
• Examples
• Hopi Indian cradleboard
• The Orphanage
• Anna (Nell)
• Young Savage of Abeyron

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Deprivation / Vicarious Living

• Deprivation Issues
• Cognitive, Social and Motor
• Vicarious Living Issues
• Pressure from parents
• Extinguishing behaviors

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Concepts Related to Early Stimulation /
Deprivation

• 1. Critical Periods
• 2. Readiness
• 3. Catch-up

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Four Elements of Critical Periods

• 1. Readiness
• 2. Time Limits
• 3. Enduring Behaviors
• 4. Domains of Development

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Readiness

• Minimum Characteristics
• Appropriate Stimuli
• How do we know when a child is ready to learn a
  new skill?

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Catch-up

• Return
• Recovery dependent severity, length, and time
  of deprivation
• Examples Anna / Harlows Monkeys

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Characteristics of a good Motor-Development
Program

• Positive and fun
• Opportunity to learn
• Current level of performance
• Child-oriented
• Varied environment
• Pressure free
• Follow Professorial Guidelines