1. Fundamental Locomotion Skills of Childhood
Chapter 12
Copyright © 2016
by Holcomb Hathaway Publishers

2. Fundamental Skills of Locomotion
Once children are able to walk without support, they can start to develop other locomotion skills to explore their surroundings.
Walking
Running
Jumping
Galloping
Sliding
Skipping
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by Holcomb Hathaway Publishers

3. by Holcomb Hathaway Publishers
Walking Development
Gait cycle
Swing phase
Support phase
Double support phase
Balance (postural control)
Static balance
Dynamic balance
Elements that improve as one becomes a more confident walker:
Dynamic base
Foot angle
Speed
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by Holcomb Hathaway Publishers

4. Selected Walking Characteristics and Their Ages of Appearance
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by Holcomb Hathaway Publishers

5. Selected Improvements in Walking
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6. Constraints on the Development of Independent Walking
Muscular strength
Balance
Walking with external loads
Clothing/footwear
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by Holcomb Hathaway Publishers

7. Running—An Extension of Walking
Children exhibit early running skills 6–7 months after onset of independent walking
Developmental aspects of the running pattern:
Support phase
Airborne or flight phase
Recovery phase
Arm actions
Flight phase
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by Holcomb Hathaway Publishers

8. Total Body Approach to Running
See Figure 12.3
for full details
of each stage.
Total Body Approach to Running
From this:
To this:
And finally to this:
This and all similar images are used with
permission of Dr. John Haubenstricker.
Copyright © 2016
by Holcomb Hathaway Publishers

9. by Holcomb Hathaway Publishers
Running Speeds
Fairly consistent year-to-year improvement for both boys and girls
Girls’ running speed peaked at 14–15 years old; boys’ speed continued to improve beyond age 17
For boys, speed improved 20% between the ages of 9 and 17; for girls, speed improved 8%
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by Holcomb Hathaway Publishers

10. Reflecting on “Girls” Running
How do you think the phrase “You run like a girl” originated?
If you are a female runner, how would you react if someone said this to you?
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by Holcomb Hathaway Publishers

11. by Holcomb Hathaway Publishers
Jumping
A movement that occurs when the body is projected into the air by force generated in one or both legs and the body lands on one or both feet.
Hop
Leap
Vertical jump
Horizontal jump
Requires strength and muscle power
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by Holcomb Hathaway Publishers

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Phases in Jumping
Preparatory phase
Takeoff phase
Flight phase
Landing phase
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by Holcomb Hathaway Publishers

13. Total Body Approach to Standing Long Jump
See Figure 12.6
for full details
of each stage.
Total Body Approach to Standing Long Jump
From this:
To this:
And finally to this:
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by Holcomb Hathaway Publishers

14. Developmental Sequence for Vertical Jumping
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by Holcomb Hathaway Publishers

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Vertical Jump Performance Variables for Children 7–11 Years of Age (N = 480)
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by Holcomb Hathaway Publishers

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Hopping
A form of jumping in which one foot is used to project the body into space; the landing is on the same propelling foot.
Requires additional strength and better balance.
Children prefer hopping on their preferred foot.
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by Holcomb Hathaway Publishers

17. Combining Fundamental Movements
Gallop: A forward step followed by a leap onto the trailing foot
Slide: Essentially the same as a gallop but performed sideways
Skip: A forward step followed by hop on the same foot; leading leg alternates
As an adult, do you still gallop, slide, or hop?
Do you enjoy performing these movements?
Or do you associate them with childhood and children?
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by Holcomb Hathaway Publishers

18. Total Body Approach to Skipping
See Figure 12.9
for full details
of each stage.
Total Body Approach to Skipping
From this:
To this:
And finally to this:
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by Holcomb Hathaway Publishers

19. Video— Teaching a Child to Skip
Watch this video for a detailed breakdown of the various stages of skipping.
Have you ever given any thought to all the processes involved in what now seems so simple?
Copyright © 2016
by Holcomb Hathaway Publishers