Question
Discuss the factors affecting motor development in detail.

Answer

There are various factors which are liable to affect motor development in children. These factors are stated below:
  1. Biological Factors: Biological factors are related to the genes. These factors are also known as heredity or genetic factors. The genes which we get from our parents are responsible for various types of development including motor development. The percentage of fast twitch fibres and slow twitch fibres depends on biological factors. In fact, these factors are likely to affect the rate and ability of motor development. These factors are related to body weight, size and strength.
  2. Environmental Factors: Environmental factors such as physical and social factors are likely to affect the motor development of children. Research studies indicate that motor development takes place at a faster rate in children who are encouraged to explore their surroundings. They are given more opportunities to take part in sports activities. Those children, who are not encouraged or motivated towards motor activities have slow rate of motor development. In fact, encouragement, love and security push a child to take risks to explore fearlessly, which leads to better motor development.
  3. Nutrition: Nutrition is also liable to affect the motor development. Indeed, nutritious food promotes good motor development. Sensory motor development is dependent upon nutrition. If children get nutritious food they become stronger which ultimately leads to good motor development. On the other hand, if children do not get proper nutrition they are found to be Iess energetic and owing to this their motor development takes place slowly.
  4. Physical Activities: Taking part in regular physical activities enhances the motor development al a faster rate. However, the physical activities must be according to the capabilities of children. Motor development becomes slow in those children, who do not take part in physical activities regularly. Not doing even minor physical activities results in delayed motor development in children.
  5. Opportunities: It is a well-known fact that children who get ample opportunities to do more and more physical activities or motor activities are likely to have better motor development.In fact, opportunities to participate in motor activities give a better chance for developing sensory motor abilities. If proper opportunities are not given to children, then motor development cannot take place in those children properly or motor development will be slow in such children.
  6. Sensory Impairments: Sensory impairments such as visual impairments, hearing impairments, etc., are likely to affect the motor development in children. Due to hearing impairments, following instructions about any type of motor activity becomes more difficult. In the same way' visual impairments also slow down the process of motor development. So, it can be concluded that if there are no sensory impairments in children, then they will have better motor development'.
  7. Postural Deformities: Postural deformities in children definitely affect their motor development. Any postural deformity, viz., spinal curvature deformities' flatfoot, knock-knees, bow leg, etc., creates hindrances or obstacles in the path of motor development of children. In the absence of postural deformities, motor development in children takes place at a faster rate'
  8. Obesity: Obesity and being overweight have negative effect on the motor development of children. It means that children who are overweight or obese are not enthusiastic to do any motor activity and may even feel uncomfortable to do it. Motor development in such children takes place slowly. Such children take more time to perform motor movement.

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