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Updated: Jul 22, 2026
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Published on: June 1, 2015
Learning in the development of infant locomotion
1Emory University, USA.
Monographs of the Society for Research in Child Development
|January 1, 1997
Summary
Infants learn to adapt crawling and walking on slopes through experience. This learning is specific to their locomotion method and body, requiring relearning when transitioning from crawling to walking.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Psychology
- Motor Learning
- Biomechanics
Background:
- Infants navigate diverse terrains while their physical abilities evolve.
- Locomotion demands adaptation to environmental properties and individual capabilities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how infants acquire adaptive locomotion on slopes.
- To examine the role of everyday locomotor experience in skill acquisition.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal testing of infants from crawling to walking stages.
- Assessing adaptive responses to novel slope inclines.
Main Results:
- Infants' slope judgments and exploration efficiency improved with crawling experience.
- No transfer of slope-learning occurred between crawling and walking.
- Learning generalized from flat surfaces but was specific to locomotion method and vantage point.
Conclusions:
- Infants learn to gauge abilities online for slope negotiation.
- Locomotor adaptation involves differentiation and selection based on experience and proficiency.
- Transitioning to walking requires relearning slope navigation skills.
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