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Child Motor Developmentchild motor development describes the changes in the physical appearance of children as well as in their motor skills. During the preschool years the sequence in which all children develop motor skills is generally the same, though some children gain skills faster than others. The major physical accomplishment for preschoolers is increased control over the large and small muscles. Small Muscle development, sometimes called fine motor activity, relates to movements requiring precision and dexterity, such as buttoning a shirt or zipping a coat.Large muscle development, or gross motor activities, involves such movements as walking and running. By the end of the preschool period, most children can easily perform self-help tasks such as buckling, buttoning, snapping, and zipping. They can go up and down steps with alternating feet. They can perform fin motor activities such as cutting with scissors and using crayons to color a predefined area. They also begin learning to write letters and words. After 6 or 7 year old, children gain few completely new basic skills, rather, the quality and complexity of their movements improve. Let's take a look at the table below which shows the ages at which most children acquire various motor skills. 2-year-oldsWalk with wide stance and body sway. Can climb, push, pull, run, hang by both hands. Have little endurance. Reach for objects with two hands. 3-year-oldsKeep legs closer together when walking and running. Can run and move more smoothly. Reach for objects with one hand. Smear and daub paint; stack blocks 4-year-oldsCan vary rhythm of running. Skip awkwardly; jump. Have greater strength, endurance, and coordination. Draw shapes and simple figures; make paintings; use blocks for buildings. 5-year-oldsCan walk a balance beam. Skip smoothly; stand on one foot. Can manage buttons and zippers; may tie shoelaces. Use utensils and tools correctly.
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