Self-concept and selected movement skills of third-grade children were examined following eight-week programs of physical education. While data did not clearly show effects of these programs on self-concept or movement, some findings provide support for statements from the literature. (Author)

Sixth graders performed a variety of physical activities over a three-week period. They then completed a program evaluator card for which name identification was optional. No relation was found between self-evaluation of motor abilities and choosing to sign the program. Motor abilities and self-concept were not related. (Author/RD)

A theory of practice in high-proficiency skills such as speech production is proposed, involving activation of a hierarchy of nodes in serial order within an output system of behavior. Increased flexibility with practice, response mechanism transfer in skills, motor equivalence, automaticity, and speed-accuracy trade-off are discussed. (Author/CM)

The neuromotor development of Down's syndrome (DS) infants is reviewed, current physical therapy approaches are cited, a neurodevelopmental treatment (NDT) approach is described, and a study on the effects of NDT on motor performance in DS infants is reported. (SB)

Examines the effect of changes in the social and motor capabilities of infants on their daily social encounters. Home observations were made of the social interactions of 14 infants and their mothers when the infants were 6, 8, and 12 months of age. (CM)

Part Two of the article focuses on the development of manual motor skills in learning disabled children. After a discussion of test methods, the author considers aspects of a medical examination, including a general exam, a neurological exam, an electroencephalogram, and a diagnostic test of hand/motor skill development. (For Part One, see EC 123…

Investigated scoring agreement among three different training levels of Visual Motor Integration Test (VMI) diagnosticians. Correlational data demonstrated high interexaminer reliabilities; however, there were gross errors in precision after raw scores had been converted into VMI age equivalent scores. (Author/RC)

Research findings concerning attention, automation, and movement are reviewed. Research in the future should be concerned with the relationship between environmental context and action. (CJ)

Changes in information processing during child, adolescent, and adult development affect motor performance. Several of the memory processes that change with development produce increased performance, processing speed, and control processes. (CJ)

The impact of movement experiences on cognitive functions and academic achievement on students, in particular the learning-disabled, is described. Cognitive processes involved in the acquisition of motor skills and intellectual abilities are detailed. (CJ)

Two methods for approaching the problems of body segment contributions to motor performance are joint immobilization with restraint and resultant muscle torque pattern. Although the second approach is preferred, researchers face major challenges when using it. (CJ)

Project: Stop-Gap, an in-service teacher training program at Temple University is designed to accommodate the training needs and mandates of the Education for All Handicapped Children Act of 1975, as they relate to physical education and motor development. (JMF)

The adequacy of biting, sucking, swallowing, and chewing as well as the presence or absence of nine infantile oral reflexes were assessed in 60 cerebral palsied individuals (ages 3 to 23). (Author/PHR)

The movement approach to teaching soccer is appropriate on the elementary level because the skills can be self-learned through problem solving, exploration, and guided discovery. (JMF)