Assignment 1: LASA 2 - Observational and Motor Learning (Essay Sample)

Observational and Motor Learning
Name
Institution
Observational and Motor Learning
The development of a child`s fine motor system is an essential aspect of the construction of other critical skills in the future like self-help, writing and drawing. Incorporation with that, a child care professional plays a crucial factor in proving resources, experience and guidance that will help children to structure their fine motor skills through their daily experiences and playing routine.
Therefore, fine motor skills involves the co-ordination of small muscles in the arm, finger and hands to control, manipulate and incorporate materials and tools. One of the most vital components of fine motor development is the coordination of hand-eye movement that enables a person to use their vision to control the action and movement of their small muscles.
The process of experiencing fine motor development usually vary depending on a child`s pace. This also enables them to expose different strengths and abilities depending on their personal makeup and areas of interest. However, there is an easy system that children`s fine motor development follows, and it varies depending on the age of the child. For instance, young babies begin to understand as they develop that their fingers, feet, hands and toes are part of their bodies and by five months they can start holding objects for a limited time. For older babies of six to nine months, can hold and shake objects like small toys, and by exactly nine months they can move objects from one hand to the other.
The activities of fine motor movement are often backed up by the following major theories related to a child`s development. These arguments are based on the individual experience and observation with children. The first one is Erikson`s psychosocial theory, according to (Scarr, 1992). He indicated that development occurs throughout the life of a person. This approach focuses on the emotional and social aspects of growth thus influencing the children`s personalities to mature in response to their social surroundings.
Piaget`s Cognitive development theory encourages teachers to focus on the strategies children come to know rather than what they know. This approach concentrates on predictable thinking or experimental stages of mental operation. The process, in this case, involves how children perceive learning, understanding and thinking about their environment.
Vygotsky’s Sociocultural Theory according to (Jean Piaget and Lev Vygotsky, 2008) believed that children develop knowledge through experiences. Piaget was firmly convinced that this occurs through exploration with hands-on activities. On the other hand, Vygotsky believed that children acquire knowledge through cultural and social experiences. Interacting with adults and peers often help children in this process because they learn the customs, beliefs, language and values of their culture.
Human motor skills or tasks can be accomplished through observational learning without the benefit of instant physical practice. However, the time spent in physical practice enables an individual with the direct means to weigh their motor commands to clear consequences. The motor skills that are acquired during the process include a particular motor task that defines a perfect pattern of muscle activation to coordinate accurate movements within a given field.
Learning observational skills plays a vital factor in providing an appropriate direction for our actions. It is also important to know that observational practice often functions with the coordination of mirror neuron system located in the premotor cortex. This observational learning is the area where functional equivalence involving psychological operation and acting included in action-observation and imagery like a mental simulation of development is expected to result in similar patterns of muscle activation.
(Mattar and Gribble, 2005) In support of this motor-driven process, they indicated that observers could adopt how to answer to pointing task to mechanical force-field perturbation incorporated to an actor. They further argued that internal models could be possessed visually by observers who are ignorant to the task. A conflicting research also indicates that observational learning was tempered with by a subsequent motor work except a verbal task, thus maintaining the initial study that observational learning happened through motor-driven and more accurate means.
The acquisition of fine motor skill development usually occurs at a very different pace depending on the growth and age of the child. It is therefore very imperative to evaluate if your child has mental retardation or developmental delay at its age. Many retardations are not a serious challenge since most children can catch up, especially when the delay is prevented at an early stage. These are some of the signs that can help you know if your child has mental, emotional or physical growth difficulties.
Language and speech delay
The statement means the kind of sounds that is produced by an individual, therefore, kids who acquire speech delay may have difficulties in pronouncing words the right way. On the other hand, language refers to the definitions of gestures and sounds and thus they may have difficulties expressing themselves or understanding other. The possible causes may include problems with a kid`s tongue, hearing loss and a learning disability. If you realise this problem earlier, you can incorporate the service a doctor, professional, speech therapist and speech- language pathologist who can diagnose and treat this mental retardation.
Motor Skill Delays
By the age 3-4 years, a child should be in a position keeping their balance and go up and down the stairs, ride a tricycle, use both sides of their body, and stack four blocks among others. However, some children may have trouble with emotions that accumulates a lot of muscles the problem to that can either be with their strength or their coordination. The possible cause, in this case, can be muscle diseases, vision problems, cerebral palsy, dyspraxia and lack of muscle control. Therefore, to help your child stren...