Final answer:
Children develop a sense of proprioception, which enables them to be aware of their body's position and movement, aiding in tasks like walking, balancing, and handling objects. The proprioceptive system evolves as they learn more complex motor skills. The Romberg test is used to clinically assess proprioception.
Step-by-step explanation:
Children begin to gain a sense of proprioception, which means that they now have an awareness of the position and movement of their body parts, and are able to control their bodies with greater precision. Proprioception is a general sensory perception that provides information about the location and movement of body parts. It is akin to a "sense of the self" in terms of physical presence and space. This proprioceptive ability is crucial for developing motor skills such as walking, balancing, and handling objects.
For example, when children achieve the milestone of bipedal locomotion, they are demonstrating their developing proprioceptive sense. As they grow, their abilities continue to advance. By the age of three, they can perform tasks that require fine motor skills and coordination, such as climbing stairs using one foot per step, handling small objects, and doing simple puzzles. This is followed by more complex physical tasks like skipping, balancing, and learning to ride a bicycle with training wheels. All of these skills involve the proprioceptive system, which works together with visual and vestibular inputs to help maintain balance and coordination.
The Romberg test is a clinical test used to assess proprioceptive function. During this test, a patient is required to stand with feet together and eyes closed, relying on proprioceptive and vestibular information to maintain balance. This test can reveal deficits in the proprioceptive pathways.