FOR BASIC GROSS-MOTOR SKILLS, THE GENERAL WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY APPEARS TO BE OPEN FROM THE PRENATAL PERIOD TO AROUND AGE FIVE. ONCE AGAIN, THIS IS A PERIOD IN WHICH EXPERIENCE IS VITAL TO LAYING THE “FOUNDATION” OF BRAIN CIRCUITS DEDICATED TO MOTOR CONTROL. THE PRIMARY MOTOR CIRCUITS THAT CONNECT TO THE CEREBELLUM, WHICH CONTROLS POSTURE AND COORDINATION, FORGE DURING THE FIRST TWO YEARS. IT IS DURING THIS PERIOD THAT THE CHILD BEGINS TO GAIN CONSIDERABLE EXPERIENCE IN THE WORLD AS HE OR SHE “MOVES” ABOUT IN THE ENVIRONMENT. ONCE AGAIN IT IS SUGGESTED THAT PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IS A STRONG DETERMINANT IN THE EARLY DEVELOPMENT OF THE BRAIN, NOT JUST MOTOR CONTROL. IT SEEMS REASONABLE THAT THE CRITICAL PERIOD FOR FINER MUSCLE CONTROL AND TIMING, WHICH TYPICALLY FOLLOW GROSS-MOTOR DEVELOPMENT, WOULD BE OPEN FROM SHORTLY AFTER BIRTH TO ABOUT AGE NINE. THIS INFORMATION HAS STRONG IMPLICATIONS FOR DEVELOPING THE PRIMARY CIRCUITS NEEDED FOR LEARNING SKILLS THAT REQUIRE A HIGH DEGREE OF MANUAL DEXTERITY, SUCH AS PLAYING A MUSICAL INSTRUMENT OR PERFORMING PRECISE MANUAL OPERATIONS. THERE IS ALSO SPECULATION THAT THE GENERAL WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY FOR MOST BEHAVIORAL FUNCTIONS NARROWS CONSIDERABLY AROUND AGE 10 (CHUGANI, 1998). WHAT CAN YOU DO..
FIRST OF ALL KNOW THAT MOTOR SKILLS ENHANCE OUR LIVES AT ALL AGES AND A POSITIVE ATTITUDE ABOUT REGULAR PHYSICAL ACTIVITY SETS THE FOUNDATION FOR A LIFETIME OF GOOD HEALTH!
BY DEVELOPING MOTOR SKILLS AND LAYING THE FOUNDATION FOR A POSITIVE ATTITUDE ABOUT PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAMS ARE FINDING THAT MOVEMENT IS A VERY EFFECTIVE AND BENEFITS YOUNG CHILDREN. THROUGH THE USE OF MOVEMENT EXPERIENCES, EDUCATORS CAN STIMULATE PROBLEM-SOLVING ABILITIES, CRITICAL THINKING, AND REINFORCE A VARIETY OF ACADEMIC CONCEPTS.
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April 2019
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