Motor development

Question 1

What is the traditional theory of motor development?

Answer 1

motor skills develop as voluntary movement centers of the brain “mature” and build upon reflexes

Question 2

What evidence supports this theory?

Answer 2

• African mothers spend much time stretching and dangling their babies, this lead to more muscle strength in babies and early walking ages
• It is also necessary because African babies spend much time bundled up in clothes and strapped onto the mothers
• Variability in timing of milestones due to experience

Question 3

What is the meant by the ‘dynamic systems’ approach to motor development?

Answer 3

• Biology, experience, and environmental factors interact to determine motor development
• Motor milestones achieved as multiple systems that are all developing at the same time come together
• Motor development has implications for other cognitive functions

Question 4

In this approach what factors other than maturation interact to promote motor development?

Answer 4

EXPERIENCE!! Due to different cultures, environments, etc.

Question 5

How does the case of the disappearing reflex inform the ‘dynamic systems’ approach to motor development?

Answer 5

if you hold a newborn or young baby upright, it will try to stand

-this disappears at 2 months

Question 6

How does motor development create opportunities for learning?

Answer 6

• holding head erect allows new perspective on the world
• self-sitting allows new means of exploration with hands
• independent locomotion helps children learn the consequences of height

Question 7

What evidence do visual cliff studies provide to support this view?

Answer 7

• novice crawler shows no expression of fear

- experienced crawler fear of heights