Motor Development in Early and Later Childhood: Longitudinal Approaches(European Network on Longitudinal Studies on Individual Development)

This volume describes from an interdisciplinary perspective human motor development using longitudinal study methods. The biological basis of motor development is discussed, looking at mechanisms of embryonic growth and fetal development. Fetal movement patterns and developmental processes and adaptations that continue throughout childhood are also treated. Chapters cover the mechanisms that underlie the development of posture, goal-directed behavior, movement patterns for communication and the acquisition of skills, such as tool use and writing. The book also considers how the developmental process can go wrong. Possible risk factors for abnormal motor development are discussed and the adaptive processes that accompany motor deficiencies in childhood and later life are also described.

Table of Contents:
List of contributors; Foreword; Preface; Part I. Setting The Scene: 1. Motor development in children at risk: two decades of research in experimental clinical psychology A. F. Kalverboer; 2. Longitudinal studies in motor development: developmental neurological considerations B. C. L. Touwen; Part II. Biological Basis of Motor Development: 3. Principles of early motor development in the human H. F. R. Prechtl; Natural priorities for developmental study: neuroembryological perspectives of motor development R. R. Provine; 5. The 'fixed action pattern' concept revisited: an ethological commentary on the chapters by Prechtl and Provine G. P. Baerends and T. G. G. Groothuis; Part III. Development of Body Posture and Goal Directed Reaching: 6. Early postnatal development of posture control: normal and abnormal aspects M. H. Wollacott; 7. Studying the development of goal-directed behaviour C. von Hofsten; 8. Development of motor functions: a 'developmental neurological' approach P. Casaer; Part IV. Motor Development, Early Communication and Cognition: 9. Early interactional signalling: the role of facial movements H. Papousek and M. Papousek; 10. Motor development: communication and cognition G. Butterworth and F. Franco; 11. On faces and hands and the development of communication B. Hopkins; Part V. Acquisition Of Skills: 12. Individual patterns of tool use by infants K. Connolly and M. Dalgleshi; 13. Tool use, hand cooperation and the development of object manipulation in human and non-human primates J. Vauclair; 14. Handwriting: a developmental perspective G. P. Van Galen; 15. Development of children's writing performance: some educational implications N. Søvik; Part IV. Motor Development and Handicap: 16. Early motor development in term and preterm children R. H. Largo, S. Kundu and L. Thun-Hohenstein; 17. Relationship between perinatal risk factors and motor development at the ages of 5 and 9 years K. Michelsson and E. Lindahl; 18. Motor development and minor handicap S. E. Henderson; 19. Longitudinal and cross-sectional approaches in experimental studies in motor development R. H. Geuze; Part VII. Methodological and Conceptual Considerations: 20. The longitudinal study of motor development: methodological issues W. Schneider; 21. Theoretical issues in the longitudinal study of motor development B. Hopkins, P. J. Beek and A. F. Kalverboer; Epilogue: description versus explanation B. Hopkins, A. F. Kalverboer and R. H. Geuze; Index.

Review :
"The variety of approaches, richness of the original data presented, the large number of references from many sources combine to make this a very stimulating collection." Perceptual and Motor Skills "...[the book's] scope is very impressive...the editors (and authors) have done a splendid job of cross-referencing among the different parts of the book...an interesting and quite readable summary..." H.L. Pick, Contemporary Psychology