Motor Development in Early Childhood

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Term

Fundamental movement skills (FMS)

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Definition

The building blocks of physical activity: locomotor skills (running, hopping, skipping, galloping), stability skills (balancing, twisting, rolling), and manipulative skills (throwing, catching, kicking, striking). The preschool years are considered the critical window for FMS acquisition; children who do not develop competent FMS are less likely to participate in physical activity in later childhood and adolescence.

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All 5 Terms & Definitions

Fundamental movement skills (FMS)
The building blocks of physical activity: locomotor skills (running, hopping, skipping, galloping), stability skills (balancing, twisting, rolling), and manipulative skills (throwing, catching, kicking, striking). The preschool years are considered the critical window for FMS acquisition; children who do not develop competent FMS are less likely to participate in physical activity in later childhood and adolescence.
Handedness
The consistent preference for one hand in skilled unimanual tasks. Emerges as a reliable individual difference by 4–5 years. Approximately 90% right-handed, 10% left-handed; mixed-handedness is less common. Neurologically linked to hemispheric lateralisation. Left-handedness is a normal genetic variant; the claim that it is associated with cognitive or health disadvantages is not well supported.
Visual-motor integration
The ability to coordinate visual perception with hand movements — essential for drawing, pre-writing, cutting, and ball skills. Assessed using copying tasks (lines, circles, crosses, squares, triangles in developmental sequence). Develops substantially between ages 3 and 6 as the connections between visual and motor cortex mature and as children accumulate practice with drawing and constructive play.
Pre-writing skill progression
Copying sequence provides a rough developmental scale: vertical line (~2 years), horizontal line (~2.5 years), circle (~3 years), cross (+, ~3.5 years), square (~4 years), triangle (~5 years), diamond (~6 years). Pencil grip matures from a fist grip (2–3 years) through a static quadrupod to the dynamic tripod (~5–6 years). These achievements depend on visual-motor integration, fine motor control, and adequate hand strength.
Catching and throwing development
Catching progresses from chest-trapping (3 years) to two-handed arm-extension catch (4 years) to anticipatory repositioning catch (5–6 years). Throwing progresses from a forward fling to an overhand throw with trunk rotation, weight shift, and follow-through by 5–6 years. Both reflect the integration of visual tracking, predictive timing, and coordinated whole-body movement.