Wize University Psychology Textbook > Development
Infant Motor Development
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Infant Motor Development
Maturation - biological process, genetically programmed, that determines our growth
Growth Principles - patterns of development common to all humans
- Cephalocaudal principle - development proceeds from head to feet. Infants have huge heads because growth is first concentrated on the head before moving down the body
- Proximodistal principle - development begins in the core of the body and moves to extremities. Fetuses first develop arms, then hands, then fingers. Newborns can control their shoulders, but not their hands.
Motor reflexes - motor responses that are triggered by specific sensory input (i.e., not learned)
- Rooting reflex - infants move their mouths towards anything that touches their cheek
- Sucking reflex - infants suck on anything that enters their mouth
Development norms - the median age at which a particular behavior is expected
- Development depends on incentives, body weight, muscular development, level of activity
Motor development can vary with cultural differences - in cultures where rapid motor development is encouraged, children progress faster
Practice: Infant Motor Development
The cephalocaudal trend in the motor development of children can be described simply as a;