The uncoordinated movements of a newborn reflect the lack of development in their brain. Since the brain gets stronger with exercise it is known that, the more the infant moves, the better for their development. As the brain and the body work together coordination develops as an infant presses or pushes off the floor, resisting gravity. This difficult work integrates limbs in relation to the body. Parents can encourage infants to push, press, and reach in order to establish proprioception. This helps them to understand where they are in relation to their environment. Proprioception is the most important sensory motor building block as it helps a child develop mental focus and supports …show more content…
Before a child learns to stand upright without falling he feels clumsy and lacks confidence. Typically, it takes a baby 12 months to attain the coordination and balance needed stand upright and learn to walk. The ability to balance oneself involves many areas of sensory input, including vision, hearing, and touch. The vestibular system has nerve endings in every major muscle group of the body, helping to coordinate movement.
As in all forms of development, there is a sequence to sensory motor development that each child follows. Together these skills provide the building blocks that drive our ability to navigate through their environment.
Movements using the same side of the body, arm, and leg; pushing with the foot and reaching with the arm are an initial step in the process, followed by the army crawl which emerges from this pattern.
Finally, cross crawling is the final pattern before walking. At this stage the baby integrates across its body by moving opposite hand and foot, first reaching with the arm and then pushing with the opposite