Brain Development

Brain development that controls motor skills begin while still in utero. After birth motor skills continue to develop at a very rapid pace. Infants began motor development with the control of their face, neck and also by smiling. The most critical period of development for babies is between the ages of six to twelve months. During this time infants learn to sit by themselves, crawl, pull up, and to walk.

The reason that babies began to have so many new abilities is because of the rapid maturation of the posterior or the back of the frontal lobe of their brain. The brain matures as the areas of the brain that controls motor development is covered in myelin. Myelin is a fatty substance that helps the neurons of the brain send messages back and forth fast and clearly. As a result the pathways of the brain, brain stem and spinal cord become better at coordinating and controlling movements.

In order for a baby to truly develop their motor skills they need plenty of practice. The more they use their new skills the better they will become at them. They also need plenty of exercise. Exercise will help to strengthen their legs, arms and other muscles that are crucial to their development. As a child care provider there are many things you can do to assist infants during this developmental stage. For one, encourage them but don't push or force them to do something. It is important to let them develop at their own pace. Make sure the environment has safe challenges that encourage movement such as pillows or cushions to climb over or go through. Play music and let them dance. For young infants this mean to bounce them softly to the beat of the music. As they get a little older you can hold their waist and bounce them allowing them more control of their body. When they are big enough you can just hold their hands and allow them to control their own movements. Putting toys inside of boxes and allowing them to crawl inside is another safe and inexpensive idea to help strengthen their motor skills.

When babies reach the twelve month milestone they may be trying or actually walking. During the ages of twelve to eighteen months the coordination is usually very off and their movements are very stiff. As they practice the art of walking and their motor pathways of the brain continue to myelinate their movement will become graceful. To encourage this age groups maturation it is important to again encourage but not rush. Also keep group sizes small so that you can take walks and observe the wonders of the world. Provide toys which can be pushed or pulled such as baby strollers, shopping carts and wheel barrows.

From the age of eighteen to twenty