Introduction to Motor Development Chapter 1 Copyright © 2016 by Holcomb Hathaway Publishers

Human Motor Development—What Is It? Changes that occur in our ability to move as we proceed through life An academic field of study The “study of changes in human movement across the lifespan and the processes that affect those changes.” (Clark & Whitall, 1989, p. 194) Copyright © 2016 by Holcomb Hathaway Publishers

Reflecting on Movement As you get ready to study movement and motor development, which is more important, in your opinion? The end result of a movement (for example, was a basketball player’s jump shot successful, and did she make the basket?) The techniques of how the movement was done, regardless of the end result Why do you think this? Copyright © 2016 by Holcomb Hathaway Publishers

Importance of Motor Development Enables diagnosis of problems in those who are not developing typically Demonstrates how to improve/perfect movement performance Helps to understand how special populations develop movement skills and then improve/perfect movement performance Copyright © 2016 by Holcomb Hathaway Publishers

Domains of Human Development Cognitive: Intellectual development Affective: Social/emotional aspects of development Psychomotor (motor): Development of human movement Physical: All types of bodily change Copyright © 2016 by Holcomb Hathaway Publishers

by Holcomb Hathaway Publishers Development The changes we experience as we pass through life “An interactional process that leads to changes in behavior over the life-span.” (Motor Development Task Force, 1995, p. 2) Copyright © 2016 by Holcomb Hathaway Publishers

Elements of Developmental Change Development is . . . Qualitative Sequential Cumulative Directional Multifactorial Individual Copyright © 2016 by Holcomb Hathaway Publishers

Developmental Perspective Researchers want to understand more than the current movement behavior. Not just today’s behavior but also what preceded the behavior and what will evolve from it. Copyright © 2016 by Holcomb Hathaway Publishers

Holcomb Hathaway Publishers Maturation & Growth Maturation Qualitative functional changes occurring with age Growth Quantitative structural changes occurring with age Copyright © 2016 by Holcomb Hathaway Publishers

Cephalocaudal and Proximodistal— Indicate Developmental Direction “From head to tail” Human development progresses from the head down to the feet Example: Learning to walk Proximodistal “From closest to the body center to points close to the periphery” Example: Grasping Copyright © 2016 by Holcomb Hathaway Publishers

Differentiation and Integration Progression from gross or immature movement to precise, well- controlled, intentional movement Integration: Various muscle systems function together How is this child demonstrating Integration? Copyright © 2016 by Holcomb Hathaway Publishers

Gross and Fine Movement Gross movement Controlled primarily by large muscles or muscle groups Examples: Walking and running Fine movement Small muscles or muscle groups Examples: Drawing, sewing, playing a musical instrument Copyright © 2016 by Holcomb Hathaway Publishers

Combination of Gross and Fine Movements Very few movements are completely governed by either the small or the large muscle groups For example, throwing is a gross movement, but a fine motor component is critical Copyright © 2016 by Holcomb Hathaway Publishers

Process–Product Controversy—Measuring Movement Product approach: Focus is on the end result or outcome. Did the child catch the ball? Process approach: Emphasis is on the movement itself, with little attention to the outcome. What is the child’s technique when trying to catch the ball? Copyright © 2016 by Holcomb Hathaway Publishers

Age Periods Across the Lifespan Copyright © 2016 by Holcomb Hathaway Publishers

by Holcomb Hathaway Publishers Stages of Development Stages (or period, phase, time, or level) Particular times in life are characterized by certain behaviors. Example: Terrible twos Do such abrupt beginnings and ends of behavioral states really occur? Copyright © 2016 by Holcomb Hathaway Publishers

Models of Lifespan Motor Development Gallahue, Ozmun, and Goodway (2012): Motor development is an hourglass Newell (1986): Constraints that affect or limit movement Clark and Metcalfe (2002): A metaphor—the Mountain of Motor Development Copyright © 2016 by Holcomb Hathaway Publishers

Mountain of Motor Development Source: Adapted from Figure 1, in Clark, J. E., & Metcalfe, J. S. (2002). The mountain of motor development: A metaphor. In J. E. Clark & J. Humphrey (Eds.), Motor development: Research and reviews. Reston, VA: NASPE Publications. Reprinted with permission of SHAPE America, www.shapeamerica.org.

Motor Development Is Like Learning to Climb a Mountain Progression, sometimes followed by regression Periods of development Each period contributes to skill acquisition that’s necessary for the next period. Copyright © 2016 by Holcomb Hathaway Publishers

Periods of Development Reflexive Preadapted Fundamental patterns Context specific Skillful Compensation Copyright © 2016 by Holcomb Hathaway Publishers

Periods in the History of the Motor Development Field Precursor period Maturational period Normative/descriptive period Process-oriented period Dynamic systems period Copyright © 2016 by Holcomb Hathaway Publishers

History of the Field—Currently A new, sixth period Rapid advancement of state-of-the-art, noninvasive technology (e.g., MRI, EEG) Copyright © 2016 by Holcomb Hathaway Publishers

Videos—Typical and Atypical Motor Development in Babies View comparisons of typical and atypical motor development in babies at various ages. Copyright © 2016 by Holcomb Hathaway Publishers