Infant Motor Skill Development

Motor Skill Development

Growth changes significantly during elementary. Most of these changes can be attributed to the changes in the skeletal, muscular system and some body organs. Most children grow an average of 2 to 3 inches per year. By the age of 11 girls stand 4 feet, 10 Ñ* inches, while boys stand 4 feet, 9 inches in height and both girls and boys gain between 5 and 7 pounds in weight. In addition to height and weight changes children began to gain muscle mass and start to lose baby fat. Boys usually become stronger than girls due to more muscle cells. During these years elementary aged children are able to perfect things that they could not before. There hand coordination is better, they gain more strength and are able to run, skip, jump and climb more precisely than before. They become more independent by combing and brushing their hair; use common tools such as a hammer.

When dealing with gross motor skills boys outperform girls in some areas just as girls outperform boys in others. Boys usually outperform the girls in the area of sports for instance; boys can throw as far as 34 feet in distance while girls only throw 19 feet. Also, boys can jump a further distance than girls. Although girls are outperformed in sports they are not far behind.

In conclusion, children grow continually over the years. As they grow their gross motor skills become perfected. This helps them to be productive and accomplish their goals in life.

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