For very young children, scribbling with a pencil and attempting to form letters to convey messages is often a significant prelude to early reading progress. (JD)

Investigated the factor structure of the McCarthy Screening Test with a sample of 555 children. Data were analyzed by a principal components analysis followed by a varimax rotation. Results indicated that the subtests all measure parts of the same attribute (cognitive and sensorimotor functions) in varying degrees. (Author/RC)

Described is the development and validation of the Charlop-Atwell Scale of Motor Coordination, which is designed to measure some aspects of the gross motor coordination of children between the ages of 4 and 6 years. The test itself and the scoring ranges for boys and girls are appended. (Author/SJL)

This article outlines a series of skills needed by young children with disabilities to be prepared to effectively use computers later in life, and provides exercises to promote these skills. Skills emphasized include: decision-making, cause-and-effect thinking, muscle control, and directional and sequencing skills. (PB)

Play and well-designed motor activities may be ideal media to facilitate young children's learning. Last year, the Council on Physical Education for Children produced a position statement contrasting developmentally appropriate and inappropriate practices in 25 program components, including curriculum, teaching strategies, motor skills…

Maria Montessori considered the hand to be the agent of interaction between mind and body. Montessori advocated an environment for children that would encourage and enhance children's experiences through the use of objects that facilitated their learning but freed them from the need for adult direction. Montessori designed materials to facilitate…

Background and Purpose: The purpose of this study was to use single-subject research methods, combined with social validation procedures, as part of an evaluation/intervention process exploring the effects of adapted switch-operated devices on self-initiated behaviors of a 6-year-old child with profound multiple disabilities. Method: A…

Two studies were conducted to examine the effects of motivational climate on motor-skill development and perceived physical competence in kindergarten children with developmental delays. In Experiment 1, two intervention groups were exposed to environments with either high (mastery climate) or low autonomy for 12 weeks. Results showed that the…

This article outlines six primary stages of a child's development. These basic functions show the way mental capacities work together as a team. Cognitive, motor, language, emotional, and social skills act together to help the child learn to deal with the world. Helping a child through these stages and fostering these core capacities requires a…

The physical development of the child from birth to the age of three is described. Exercises designed to increase motor coordination and strengthen muscles are outlined and illustrated. (JD)

Partial replication of the Luria and Tikhomirov experiments in the verbal regulation of behavior has led to results and conclusions contradictory to those of the Russian researchers. Subjects for these experiments included mentally handicapped children and adults. The results of four sets of experiments are presented. In general, the basic…

The Developmental Indicators for the Assessment of Learning (DIAL) test was used to evaluate 610 children, aged 2-1/2 to 5-1/2. Performance varied by race, sex and age,leading to the conclusion that our understanding of basic characteristics of movement performance in preschool children is far from complete. (Author/MT)

Highlights the importance of activities to build gross motor skills and provides hints for encouraging such activities. Specific areas of activities presented are: (1) running and jumping; (2) music games; (3) action games; (4) races; (5) bed sheets or parachutes; (6) hula hoops; (7) balls; (8) batting; (9) balance; and (10) creative movement. (SD)

Use of neurodevelopmental treatment, also known as the Bobath method, is discussed, including its history, philosophy, goals, and treatment emphasis with infants and children with movement disorders. Examples of children before and after therapeutic intervention illustrate use of the technique, and controversies in measuring therapy efficacy are…

The relation between cognitive and motor performance was studied in a sample of 378 children aged 5-6. Half of these children had no behavior problems; the others were selected for externalizing (38%) or internalizing problems (12%). Quantitative and qualitative aspects of motor performance were related to several aspects of cognition, after…