WHAT IS MOTOR DEVELOPMENT?  

Motor development is a study that is conducted on humans over a lifespan.  Wuest and Bucher state that the study of motor development “[analyses] the interaction of genetic and environmental factors that affect an individual’s ability to perform motor skills throughout their lifespan,” (1999, p.16).  Motor development is a vital study which helps researchers to understand the progression of motor skill development in children.

Motor development is a study that is used for physical education and sport and has been researched and analysed since the 1930s.  Recent research is raising new theories about how babies, toddlers and young children develop the ability to control their own bodies.

As children develop new skills rapidly, such as walking or exploring, parents become more intrigued and excited with the development of their child.  Slee suggests that “in terms of physical abilities, 4-year-olds can engage in such complex motor acts as whirling around in a circle without falling down and turning somersaults.  Along with having an improved sense of balance, they can also stand on their toes, hop on one foot and catch a ball while flexing their arms at the elbow,” (2002, p.251).