Motor Development

Growth and Development

Growth & development

• Growth & development – terms used interchangeably; refer to changes in human body from birth to death.

• Growth – change in size • Development – process of maturation• All humans follow a similar sequential

process but yet we are individual in our rates of growth & development.

• *Not all children mature at the same rate.

Factors influencing growth patterns:

3 Major Growth Spurts in Human Growth History:

1. In utero – nutritionally & genetically determined

2. 54-60 months of age (age 4 to 5)

3. Puberty

• Boys = girls height up to age 11; then girls tend to be taller than boys until age 13.

• Boys = girls weight up to age 11; then boys tend to be heavier than girls by age 15+.

People who undergo early growth spurts usually end up shorter than those who have late growth spurts.

Changes in physical features relating to sport performance…

• Centre of gravity – higher in children than adults

• children are less stable, especially when trying to stop bodies from moving in 1 direction

Changes in physical features relating to sport performance • Body Proportions • ·       The fingers of a 4-5 yr. old are

short/stubby making it difficult to grasp small objects vs. 6-7 yr. old

• ·       The legs of an adolescent undergoing a growth spurt are longer in proportion to body which enables this athlete to run faster.

• Hip-shoulder ratio in males differs from females following puberty – guys have the advantage in throwing b/c of this; ladies have a lower centre of gravity & are more stable (better gymnasts).

Changes in physical features relating to sport performance• Muscle & Fat Mass • ·       Fat deposition in body increases from birth

to 6 months, then decreases up to age 6-8• ·       Body fat increases approaching

adolescence but decreases during growth spurt for guys more so than girls

• ·       Muscles increase in length, breadth, and width such that muscle tissue weighs 40x more at maturity than at birth

• ·       Height & weight increase before strength• ·       Early-maturing children are usually

stronger than late “bloomers”

Developmental patterns that typify the growth of

children • Cephalocaudally – HEAD to TOE

progression; coordination & management of body parts occur in the upper body before they are observed in the lower; child can throw before kick!

Developmental patterns that typify the growth of

children• Proximodistally – INSIDE to

OUTSIDE progression; • child can control arm before hand;

can reach for objects before being able to grasp them!

Developmental patterns that typify the growth of

children• GENERAL to SPECIFIC

progression; gross motor movements occur before fine motor coordination & refined movement patterns; as child learns motor skills, non-productive movement is gradually eliminated.