Question

Early childhood development follows a developmental sequence. Mel is an OT in early intervention and works with infants and children in their homes. She is working with J.J. in tummy time and observes that he can lift his head and look around, but his arms remain close to his body with his elbows flexed. Mel's treatment plan will focus on the following skills to promote more distal mobility:

1) Strengthening J. J's arms so he can reach more for toys
2) Play to promote proximal stability and postural control
3) Visually tracking toys in to his left and right sides
4) Protective extension while on hands and knees

Answer 1

Motor development in infants follows a prescribed sequence from simple reflexive movements to complex motor skills. Mel's treatment plan for J.J. should include exercises for arm strengthening, proximal stability, and visual tracking to promote distal mobility and overall motor development. These activities support the achievement of developmental milestones such as sitting, crawling, and walking.

Step-by-step explanation:

Understanding Motor Development in Infants

Motor development in infants follows an orderly sequence where they move from simple reflexive reactions to more complex motor skills. For instance, babies first begin to hold their heads up, progress to sitting with assistance, sitting unassisted, eventually leading to more advanced movements like crawling and walking.

Mel, an Occupational Therapist (OT) working in early intervention, observes that while J.J. can lift his head during tummy time, his arms remain tucked with elbows flexed. To promote distal mobility, Mel's treatment plan should focus on strengthening J.J's arms to reach for toys. Additionally, playing to promote proximal stability and postural control is vital as it forms the foundation for further development of motor skills. Visual tracking of toys to the sides encourages both visual and motor development, while developing protective extension when on hands and knees is crucial for safety and more sophisticated mobility.

As milestones in infant development are reached, toddlers become increasingly skilled in both gross and fine motor skills, eventually leading to greater independence and capabilities such as climbing stairs and handling small objects confidently.