182) summarises that "Children need adequate sleep, nutrition, and freedom from disease if they are to attain normal growth Young children must obtain adequate food and eat a well balanced diet if they are to achieve a satisfactory physical development".
By the age of nine fine and gross motor skills are in unison in relation to levels of milestone development. Boys and girls at the age of five have similar developmental achievements in this area, it is not gender biased, as is the general public's perception.
Leve (1980) summarises that "Although some children are far advanced over others, almost all children develop sufficient motor skills for such tasks as writing and recreational sports. Generally, fine motor coordination lags behind gross motor coordination." (p.183).
Balance plays a major role in gross motor skill development. My observations relating to my child and that of the age appropriate milestones indicate, that she currently at a level higher than her milestones indicate. She is very competent.
runner with control of her direction and speed. .
My child appeared to be very physical and full of energy and achieved most of the physical milestones (noted in my research) for her age. By the time her fifth birthday arrived my child was able to ride a bicycle competently without any assistance. I believe the physical development milestone of riding a bicycle unaided has been reached due to her environment / home life. She has been exposed to such activities, from an early age, through her family's lifestyle and activities shared as a family. Her older male siblings often ride their bicycles with her, and do so together as a family weekend pastime. .
Fine motor skills are harder to learn; co-ordination of small fingers and hand-to-eye.
co-ordination requires practice over time to develop. My child has clearly demonstrated her ability to write lower and uppercase letters clearly and eligibly.
