Development of visual and tactile rod orientation in children

Two groups of neurologically normal children (total number 64), aged from 4 to 13 years, were examined with the rod orientation test. In the second group, the line orientation test and finger tapping were also studied in addition to the rod orientation test. On the rod orientation test, the mean error rates decreased with age in both groups, and from the age of 10 the children performed as well as normal adults. In the period (ages 4-7 years) in which the greatest change in performance on the visual part of the rod orientation test had taken place (63%), a much smaller change occurred in the tapping frequency (23%). Thus the development of motor skills does not seem to be directly related to the development of spatial perception. The line orientation test did not show any developmental profile.