Motor Development & Physical Growth: Birth to Puberty Milestones

Motor Development Theories and Trends

David L. Gallahue's Motor Development Theory

This section refers to considerations of David L. Gallahue's theoretical model of motor development. It emphasizes the use of motor phases within a developmental sequence, suggesting that humans progress from simple to complex and from general to specific motor skills. Each individual must successfully pass through each phase to be eligible for more complex motor skills. Human actions can be observed at different stages across various tasks. Factors influencing this progression include physical fitness and motor control involved in motor execution.

Current Trends in Motor Ability Studies

Current trends in the study of motor ability are varied, comprehensive, and multidisciplinary, influenced by the diverse knowledge areas that promote them. There is significant interest in understanding the nature and regulation of children's movements, including their perceptual and cognitive processes and their interaction. Interesting developments in motor development are being applied in classrooms and gymnasiums to further promote and explain motor learning. There is also a keen interest in children's motor skills to address academic and school-related shortcomings. All these contemporary trends have moved beyond the traditional mind-body duality, recognizing the child as a unified entity and motor development as a primary, fundamental factor.

Physical Growth from Birth to Puberty

Key Aspects of Physical Growth

• The growth curve of physical distance.
• The speed curve of physical growth.
• Body proportions and growth rates.
• Body types.
• The growth of various body systems.
• The ages of growth.
• Regulatory factors of postnatal growth and physical development.
• The phenomenon of secular trend in development.
• The prediction of physical growth.

Learning Objectives for Physical Growth

• Analyze physical development from birth to puberty.
• Interpret the following concepts:
  • The distance curve.
  • The speed curve.
  • Body proportions and growth rates.
• Discriminate between different body types.
• Describe the growth of various body systems.
• Understand the ages of growth.
• Study the factors controlling postnatal physical growth and development.
• Explain the phenomenon of secular trend in development.
• Evaluate the potential for physical growth prediction.

Assessing Corporal Growth

Body assessment during growth refers to various parameters and aspects such as dentition, increased height, weight, chest circumference, cranial circumference, degree of ossification, body hair, or menarche. Some of these measures are only valid at specific moments (e.g., body hair, menarche), while others are useful throughout the first 20 years (e.g., height, weight) for diagnostic purposes.