Functional Development in children

In the process of development Functional  development means motor skill during infancy (birth to 2 weeks) and early childhood (3years to 6 years) is dependent upon and influenced by the growth and maturity, characteristics of the child interacting with the environment. There are two types of motor skills: (a) gross motor skills (b) fine motor skills.

 Gross Motor Skills-

Gross Motor Skills generally refers to movements involving larger muscles, like those in the arms, legs, feet or the entire body. Gross motor skills proceed gradually with physical development. After the development of bone the child is able to walk, run and do other activities. Thirdly, the number of bones changes. Development of teeth starts in gums during the prenatal period. After birth the teeth start emerging from 6 months onwards. By birth, all 20 deciduous teeth and a few permanent teeth are developing deep in the jaw. At the age of 5-6 years, these teeth start falling and their place is taken by the permanent teeth.

Fine Motor Skills- 

Fine motor skills is to purposeful attempts to grab objects. Children start grabing objects by fingers, follows objects from side to side. Brings objects to mouth etc.

Characteristics of Motor Development-

1.       Motor control of the head comes before control of the legs. This head-to-tail sequence is called the cephalocaudal trend.

2.       Motor development proceeds from the centre of the body outward, for example- the head, trunk and arm control is mastered before the coordination of the hands and fingers. This is the proximodistical trend.

3.       Physical growth follows these same trends throughout infancy and childhood.

4.       Once the child has grasped these gross motor skills, they are then able to explore their environment further by grasping things, turning them over and seeing what happens when they are released. Infants are then able to learn a great deal about the sight, sound and feel of objects.

Factors Affecting Motor Development-

1.       Learning motor skills need maturation and readiness to learn.

2.       Opportunities should be provided by parents at home without any inhibitions.

3.       As children learn by imitation, they should have good role models.

4.       Children should be motivated and made to feel prestigious about the independence they are learning.

5.       Each skill must be learnt individually as each skill differs from the other and this also avoids confusion in the mind of the child.