the dynamic system theory 1990s

maturation- arnold gesell 

motor development is an active process that occurs based on the following: 

central nervous system development

bodys current movement abilities

goal the child has in mind

envioronmental support for skill (parents and adults)

smaller movements, reaching and grasping 

development of reaching and grasping becomes more refined during the first 2 years of life

age 3: clumsily pick up tiny objects between thumb and forefinger, build higher block towers

age 4: have more percise coordination

age 5: hands, arms, and fingers move together under better command of the eyes

infants look at different things for different lenghts of time 

-looking chamber: have 2 visual displays on the ceiling above infants head

-longer look at one stuimuli more prefer that stimuli

-infants only 2 days old would look longer at paterned stiumli

-overall stronger prefercenes is for faces

involuntary, inborn, automatic, responses, to external stimuli, or stimulation

born with :rooting reflex, sucking reflex, moro reflex, eye blink reflex

involve large muscle activies that help infant get around in thier enviornment

examples: crawling, standing, walking 

-hold head erect- 3wks-4mos

-roll side to back- 3wks- 5wks

-roll back to side- 2-7 mos   .

-sitting alone- 5-9 mos     

-crawls- 5-11 mos

-pulls to stand- 5-12 mos

-stands alone- 9-16 mos

-walks alone- 9-17 mos

age 3: use simple movements such as hopping, jumping, and running back and forth

age 4: are more advernturesome, use jungle gyms, climb stairs with one foot on a step at a time, and beginnging to come down that way too

age 5: more adventursome with climbing, run harder and enjoys racing

test show that infants hearing is extremely well-developed

- auditory system is completed well before birth

believe that the rhythm, intonation, and stress of speech is learned rather than the story its self 

- can hear high pitched better than low pitches

can differentiate between odors - less than 12 hours old reacted to the odors of strawberry and bananas with look of satifaction and rotten eggs with frowns

mcfarlane: 1 week old could distinguish the odor of mothers brest pad from another mothers 

learn in the womb tase prefernces of mom

amniotic fluid is rich with taste and smells

- breast milk allows them to become familiar with foods of culture, mom, or family