ABSTRACT

This chapter explains an alternate view of the development of prehension, and also explains exploratory procedures and the development of haptic perception. It describes the terms fine and gross motor generally to categorize types of movement. Fine movements are integral to motor development in general, as well as to other areas of human development, such as academics and social development. Children who lag in fine motor development in areas such as these may give the appearance of being messy or unkempt, which, of course, can affect their social relationships and ultimately how these children perceive themselves. Portions of a child's school day involve handwriting activities. Understanding the development of handwriting skill is important to a full understanding of overall motor development and motor control. Researchers have even used analyses of handwriting performance to determine neurological deficits, especially those involving the hands.