1. Introduction to Motor Development
Chapter 1
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2. 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)
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3. 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?
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4. 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
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5. 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
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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)
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7. Elements of Developmental Change
Development is . . .
Qualitative
Sequential
Cumulative
Directional
Multifactorial
Individual
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8. 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.
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Maturation & Growth
Maturation
Qualitative functional changes occurring with age
Growth
Quantitative structural changes occurring with age
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Holcomb Hathaway Publishers

10. 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
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11. 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?
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12. 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
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13. 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
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14. 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?
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15. Age Periods Across the Lifespan
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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?
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17. 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
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18. 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,

19. 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.
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20. Periods of Development
Reflexive
Preadapted
Fundamental patterns
Context specific
Skillful
Compensation
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21. Periods in the History of the Motor Development Field
Precursor period
Maturational period
Normative/descriptive period
Process-oriented period
Dynamic systems period
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22. History of the Field—Currently
A new, sixth period
Rapid advancement of state-of-the-art, noninvasive technology (e.g., MRI, EEG)
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23. Videos—Typical and Atypical Motor Development in Babies
View comparisons of typical and atypical motor development in babies at various ages.
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by Holcomb Hathaway Publishers