Lesson 6: Early Physical and Motor Development


Attention

It seems miraculous at times that little children develop such complex motor..and later, cognitive...skills

Click HERE for a detailed checklist as to what normative development looks like across different ages...this document, produced by the Center for Disease Control, provides guidelines on what to expect

Click HERE to download a chart that identifies both gross- and fine-motor development.


Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this lesson's material, students will be able to:

  • Identify the major neurological growth processes
  • Relate the development of myelin to the development of fine and gross motor coordination
  • Identify ways in which parenting interacts with physical development

Teaching

Neurological and Physical/Motor development happen hand in hand...as bones and muscles in the body develop so does the nervous system designed to control them.

Neurological Development

A number of processes occur that signify neurological development from infancy through adolescence (and beyond)

  • Neuron Proliferation and Differentiation
  • Neuron Dendritification
  • Neuron Migration
  • Neuron Specialization
  • Synaptogenesis
  • Synaptic Pruning
  • Myelination

Neuron Migration

 

This video shows a neuron cell moving along glial fibers

Exposure to Alcohol and Radition and can impact the processes and signals associated with neuron migration

Myelination

Read details about myelin on Wikipedia by clicking HERE

  • Gray Matter in the brain and nervous system contains relatively unmyelinated cells
  • White Matter in the brain and nervous system contains myelinated cells...myelin is white colored

Physical and Motor Development

Click HERE to download the document "Understanding Physical Development in Young Children"


Assessment

Lesson 6 Quiz

  1. Look up information related to Myelination on the web and explain how myelination contributes to the development of coordinated movement. Be sure that you explain the relationship between the myelination of the nervous system and increased coordination.