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Updated: Oct 1, 2025

Measuring the Functional Abilities of Children Aged 3-6 Years Old with Observational Methods and Computer Tools
Published on: June 20, 2020
A model for using developmental science to create effective early intervention programs and technologies to improve
Iryna Babik1, Andrea B Cunha2, Michele A Lobo2
1Department of Psychological Science, Boise State University, Boise, ID, United States.
Insights
Early sensorimotor skills are foundational for development. Interventions targeting these skills in the first year can optimize outcomes and prevent later developmental delays in children.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Psychology
- Pediatric Rehabilitation
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Children with risk factors often experience global developmental delays identified late.
- Late identification of delays limits the effectiveness of early intervention strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose a conceptual model of child development focusing on early sensorimotor skills.
- To inform the design of early interventions and rehabilitative technologies for the first year of life.
- To optimize developmental outcomes and minimize delays typically identified later.
Main Methods:
- Conceptual model development.
- Literature review on sensorimotor development and early interventions.
- Case examples of interventions targeting sensorimotor skills.
Main Results:
- Early sensorimotor skills, like postural control and exploratory movements, are foundational for motor, cognitive, language, and social development.
- Targeting sensorimotor skills in infancy can enhance object exploration and learning opportunities.
- Interventions can be designed to leverage developmental pathways for improved outcomes.
Conclusions:
- A conceptual model highlights the critical role of early sensorimotor development.
- Early interventions targeting sensorimotor skills in the first year are crucial for optimizing child development.
- This approach can ameliorate delays typically identified at preschool or school age.
Abstract:
Children born with a variety of environmental or medical risk factors may exhibit delays in global development. Very often, such delays are identified at preschool or school age, when children are severely overdue for effective early interventions that can alleviate the delays. This chapter proposes a conceptual model of child development to inform the creation of interventions and rehabilitative technologies that can be provided very early in development, throughout the first year of life, to optimize children's future developmental outcomes. The model suggests that early sensorimotor skills are antecedent and foundational for future motor, cognitive, language, and social development. As an example, this chapter describes how children's early postural control and exploratory movements facilitate the development of future object exploration behaviors that provide enhanced opportunities for learning and advance children's motor, cognitive, language, and social development. An understanding of the developmental pathways in the model can enable the design of effective intervention programs and rehabilitative technologies that target sensorimotor skills in the first year of life with the goal of minimizing or ameliorating the delays that are typically identified at preschool or school age. Specific examples of early interventions and rehabilitative technologies that have effectively advanced children's motor and cognitive development by targeting early sensorimotor skills and behaviors are provided.
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