ABSTRACT
This chapter describes the mature combination of movements that results in the development of galloping, sliding, and skipping. It also describes the constraints that influence the development of the fundamental locomotion skills of walking, running, and jumping. Children's motor repertoires greatly expand during the second year of life. At this time, children no longer have to rely on rudimentary motor behaviors to locomote, explore, and manipulate objects in their environment. They begin to develop and use fundamental locomotion skills that include walking, running, jumping, and hopping. To maintain balance during initial walking attempts, the infant places the feet apart to widen the base of support. As balance improves, the child brings the feet closer together. The task of walking becomes even more difficult because the child must master dynamic balance in order to transfer its weight from leg to leg during walking.
