The development of motor skills through play and movement in little children

Abstract

This dissertation is the result of research and observations carried out through a period of two years. Its primary aim is to explore and whenever possible to explain, the development of motor skills with particular emphasis upon play and movement, through the continuous study of two young children from the ages of two and a half to four years. To give greater credit to the observations included hereunder, several of the most important and popular psychological theories were therefore examined and co-ordinated to the findings which came about through these studies. Chapter 1 of this dissertation deals intensively with the home environment and any hereditary factors which might influence a child's motor skills. The development of motor skills is investigated in Chapter 2, while its aspects related to personal behaviour are narrated in Chapter 3. The final chapter of this study includes an explanation of the effects of play on motor development. Whilst trying to reach a definite conclusion upon the questions pondered hereunder, it must be noted that such a vast field of study cannot possibly be totally examined and explained in this dissertation, and therefore, the final word still remains to be written.