Gross and fine motor development from birth to 6 months
include the references
Gross motor development refers to the physical skills that involve large muscle groups and movement of the whole body. Fine motor development, on the other hand, involves the coordination of small muscles in the hands and fingers. Both types of motor development are crucial for a child's overall growth and development.
From birth to 6 months, infants go through rapid changes in their gross and fine motor skills. During this time, infants typically go from having very limited control over their movements to being able to hold their head up, roll over, and grasp objects.
In the first few weeks of life, infants have very limited control over their movements and are mostly focused on feeding and sleeping. However, by around 3 months, they start to gain more control over their neck muscles and can hold their head up briefly when lying on their stomach. They may also start to swipe at objects and bring their hands to their mouth.
By 6 months, most infants can sit up with support and may be able to roll over from their back to their stomach. They may also start to reach for and grasp objects using both hands, and may begin to transfer objects from hand to hand.
It is important for parents and caregivers to provide opportunities for infants to practice and develop their gross and fine motor skills during this time. This can include providing tummy time, offering toys and objects for them to grasp and manipulate, and encouraging reaching and crawling movements.
References:
- Miller, L. J., & Cermak, S. A. (2016). Development of Posture and Movement. In F. E. Polatajko, J. A. C. Hui Chan, & M. E. Schaefer (Eds.), Occupational Therapy for Children and Adolescents (7th ed., pp. 78-111). Elsevier.
- London, L. (2018). Development. In L. London, Applied Motor Learning Concepts (1st ed., pp. 167-195). Wolters Kluwer.