Rudimentary Movement Abilities ©Gallahue, D.L., Ozmun, J.C., Goodway, J.D. (2012). Understanding Motor Development. Boston: McGraw-Hill. McGraw-Hill/Irwin © 2012 McGraw-Hill Companies. All Rights Reserved.

8-2 Mastery of the rudimentary movement abilities of infancy is a reflection of increased motor control and movement competence brought about factors operating within the task and the environment, as well as within the individual.

8-3  Reflex Inhibition Stage : Birth –12 months  Reflex suppression  Gradual but persistent shift to purposeful movement  Precontrol Stage : 12 – 24 months  Practice and ‘mastery’ of rudimentary tasks  Sensory-motor differentiation and integration  Fewer constraints  Study of Infant Motor Development  Both maturation and self-organization  Sequence of development is fixed  Rate of development is variable

8-4  Control of Head & Neck : Turns head; lifts chin; good prone control; good supine control  Control of Trunk : Prone head & chest lift; attempts supine to prone roll; does prone to supine roll  Sitting : Sits with support; self-supports; sits alone (figure 8.1)  Standing: Stands with support; cruises; stands alone (figure 8.2)

8-5  Horizontal: Scoots; crawls (figure 8.3); creeps (figure 8.4); bear walks  Upright : Walks with support; walks with handholds; walks with lead; walks independently

8-6  Reaching : Globular; corralling; controlled  Grasping: Reflexive; voluntary; two-hand palmer; one-hand palmer; pincer; controlled; feeds self  Releasing: Basic; controlled

8-7  Measurable Benefits  At-risk infants  Typically developing infants  Downside of Neonatal Intensive Care  Sensory overload  Sensory deprivation  Making Connections Makes Sense  Parents : Yes  Multiple caregivers: Not so good  Developing the Total Child Pays :  Motor & Physical  Mental, emotional & social  Long Term Programs are Beneficial:  Nurturing environments help all children  See Active Start guidelines for infant programs

8-8  A Case For :  Bonding  Critical period  ”Drown proofing”  Fun  The “thing to do”  A Case Against :  Hyponatremia  Giardia  Sensitive period  Trust vs. Mistrust  American Academy of Pediatrics position statement

8-9 Although the sequence for acquiring the rudimentary movement abilities of infancy is predetermined by the biology of the individual, the rate may be dramatically influenced by factors both within the requirements of the task and the specific conditions of the learning environment.