Research Paper on:
Significance of Motor Development

Unformatted Sample Text from the Research Paper:
development" (Darrah, et al, 2007, p. 6). Therefore, if a childs development, including motor development, is delayed, it is assumed that these delays will persist and possibly increase overtime if  intervention is not initiated. This expectation evolves from the "universalist or maturation theories of development," which view developmental skills as principally dependent on the "maturation of the central nervous system"  (Darrah, et al, 2007, p. 6). Observations of children in regards to motor development can provide early clues as to overall neurological functioning and associated cognitive development. For example,  children with autism frequently exhibit an "Unusual gait, including slower pace, decrease step length, increased knee flexion and unusual upper extremity positions during walking" (Ozonoff, et al, 2008, p 644).  A study conducted by Ozonoff, et al (2008) indicates that group differences were found between autistic children and normally developmental children in regards to gross motor development, that is, "rolling,  sitting, crawling [and] walking" (Ozonoff, et al, 2008, p 644). Van Barr, et al (2006) studied preterm and children who were carried to full-term in a prospective longitudinal design  that considered school outcomes at ten years of age. This study included the differences between the children in terms of "somatic, neuro-motor, cognitive and socio-emotional development" (Van Baar, et al,  2006, p. 273). Furthermore, the researchers studied the differences between those preterm children who experienced developmental problems and those who did not. The subgroup that demonstrated developmental programs were characterized  by "a history of grade retention or attendance of special education" (Van Baar, et al, 2006). The group of preterms who did not have school problems had fewer serious neonatal  developmental difficulties, that is, "better drinking capacities in the first month, faster early head growth and better early mental and motor development" (Van Baar, et al, 2006, p. 273). The