Question

Describe the major changes during infancy in gross and fine motor development

Answer 1

During infancy, gross motor skills progress from head control to walking, while fine motor skills progress from brief object contact to purposefully grasping and manipulating objects.

Step-by-step explanation:

Gross and fine motor development undergo major changes during infancy. Gross motor skills involve large muscle groups and enable larger movements, such as balancing, running, and jumping. Fine motor skills focus on the muscles in the fingers, toes, and eyes and enable coordination of small actions, like grasping a toy or using a spoon.

During infancy, babies go through a sequence of motor development milestones. They start by holding their heads up, then learn to sit with assistance, sit unassisted, crawl, and eventually walk.

Similarly, fine motor skills progress from simple actions, like briefly holding objects, to more complex actions, like purposefully grasping and manipulating objects. Overall, motor development during infancy plays a crucial role in building foundational skills for physical movement and coordination.

Answer 2

Infant motor development involves significant changes in gross and fine motor skills from reflexive responses to more complex actions like crawling and walking, usually following a consistent developmental sequence.

Step-by-step explanation:

Changes in Infant Motor Development

During infancy, there are significant changes in both gross and fine motor skills. Initially, infants exhibit reflexive responses such as sucking and rooting. As they grow, their gross motor skills advance from holding their heads up to sitting with assistance, followed by unassisted sitting, crawling, and eventually walking. By their first birthday, most toddlers can stand and walk with help. Fine motor skills also progress, enabling infants to perform actions like grasping objects with a pincer grasp, flipping through book pages, and handling small objects.

Infant development milestones unfold in a sequential manner. By ten months, a typical infant is able to sit unsupported, crawl, and show improved dexterity through activities like picking up objects with precision. Cognitive and sensory abilities are also rapidly developing, complementing motor skill advancements.

Overall, while age-specific milestones like sitting, crawling, and walking can vary in timing among infants, these milestones typically follow a consistent sequence that reflects the ongoing development and refinement of gross and fine motor abilities during the first year of life.