By three to four months of age, most babies placed on their tummies on a safe, warm surface push down with their arms and raise their chests, so that they can turn their heads to look about at the world around them. By five months, babies stretch both feet and hands upward in order to swipe at interesting mobiles placed overhead. At seven to nine…

The effects of practice on 2 elementary neuromotor patterns, stepping and sitting, were investigated in 32 6-week-old male infants. After 7 weeks, infants who received elicitation of the stepping pattern, alone or in combination with sitting exercises, stepped more than infants who received no exercise or sitting exercise only. (MDM)

Four principles are drawn from approximately 100 years of research in the area of motor development. The principles are (1) children are not miniature adults, (2) boys and girls (children) are more alike than different, (3) good things are earned, and (4) no body (nobody) is perfect. Five sections of this article introduce some of the major…

This study examined changes in rhythmic arm shaking and laterality biases in infants observed longitudinally at three points: just prior to, at, and just following reduplicated babble onset. Infants (ranging in age from 4 to 9 months at babble onset) were videotaped at home as they played with two visually identical audible and silent rattles…

As part of a longitudinal study, home observations were made of 14 Down Syndrome and 19 nonretarded infants at 6.5 months and 17 months. Findings stressed the importance of early compensatory training involving Down Syndrome infants and their parents in the home environment. (CL)

Tests run with children to detect musculoskeletal deficits, especially rheumatoid arthritis. (JA)

Five outdoor games beneficial to the development of children's motor skills are described. (LH)

Describes the perception-action approach and the dynamic systems approach to motor development. Discusses the importance of understanding the development of the brain and the importance of longitudinal studies of motor development. (RJC)

Examined asymmetries in movement behaviors of 36 full-term, newborn infants. The majority of infants had right-biased movement behaviors. Multiple subsystems, rather than a single asymmetric system, appeared to control asymmetric action of different body regions. There were sex differences in asymmetry of distal lower body movement behaviors that…

This study was undertaken to determine whether neo-Piagetian theory might provide a functional interpretation of children's motor development, particularly linear positioning. In addition, intra-age and inter-age comparisons for both high- and low-mental-processing children were made. Pascual-Leone's Figural Intersection Test was used to select 15…

Part of a larger investigation, "Selected Areas of Development of Twins in Relation to Zygosity, financed in part by a grant from the Florida State University Research Council and by the Institute of Human Development.

The steps to building a community playground are discussed. These steps include planning, materials and services needed, and the involvement of parents, teachers, and administrators as well as the children themselves. Pictures illustrate the text. (DB)

Discusses the history of the study of motor behavior. Briefly reviews the contents of the November 1989 issue of "Developmental Psychology." (RJC)

Little attention has been given to the developmental process of "how children learn to move" and the changing role that emerging motor competence may play in children and youths' physical activity levels as they grow. But we need to recognize that there is a developmental trajectory to physical activity and the factors that affect it if we are…