Related Experiment Videos
Neurological development during toddling age in normal children and children at risk of developmental disorders
1Department of Developmental Neurology, State University Groningen, Netherlands.
Insights
Motor skills in toddlers (1.5-4 years) undergo significant qualitative changes, reflecting neural transformations. Early identification of non-optimal motor behaviors in
Area of Science:
- Developmental Pediatrics
- Neuroscience
- Motor Control
Background:
- Toddling age (1.5-4 years) is characterized by qualitative shifts in motor function development.
- Understanding these changes is crucial for identifying potential neurological impairments early.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine motor function development in normal and 'risk' toddlers.
- To identify qualitative differences in motor behavior indicative of neurological status.
Main Methods:
- Observation of motor functions (grasping, sitting, crawling, standing, walking) in a standardized free-field setting.
- Examination of 305 normal and 43 'risk' children.
Main Results:
- Normal children exhibited decreased yoke movements, increased trunk motility, variable crawling speed, narrowed gait, and improved object avoidance between 2-3 years.
- 'Risk' children displayed qualitatively different, non-optimal motor behaviors.
Conclusions:
- Observed motor changes in normal toddlers signify a 'transformation' of neural functions.
- Qualitatively different motor behavior in 'risk' children may indicate early signs of neurological impairment.
- These findings highlight the importance of detailed motor assessment in early childhood development.
Abstract:
Toddling age (1.5-4 years) is a period in which the quality rather than the quantity of motor functions changes. We examined 305 normal and 43 so called 'risk' children with an examination technique which concentrates on observations of motor functions (grasping, sitting, crawling, standing and walking) in a standardized free field situation. Examples of the changes during toddling age are presented such as the decrease of yoke movements (i.e. shoulder movements during reaching), the increase of trunk motility, of variability of speed during crawling, narrowing of gait width, and an increased ability to avoid objects on the floor and to show maneuverability during walking. All changes occurred in the normal children between the ages of 2 and 3 years. They reflect a 'transformation' of neural functions. Many of the 'risk' children show qualitatively different motor behaviour, which is interpreted as non-optimal and which can be an early sign of neurological impairment. The transformation in neural functions is discussed in terms of neuroanatomical changes during toddling age.