Scout is a one year old; toddling and tinkering with all he comes in contact with.  He can now use his hands to reach and manipulate objects.  His fine motor skills are unfolding and developing in so many ways.   He has mastered moving with reflexes, can combine and coordinate simple movements, and is on his way exploring complex movements.  He cannot yet make nor expand complex movements.  Children in Scout’s age group demonstrate an increased proficiency in motor skills, which shows physical and motor competence.  The California Department of Education’s Child Development Division uses the Desired Results Development Profile-Revision (DRDP-R) to make an assessment on a typical child’s development.  The Infant/Toddler Instrument measures a child’s development from birth to 36 months of age.  Seeing that Scout is one third of the way through the age requirement for this instrument, it is wonderful to see his competency lies near the mastery end of the developmental continuum.  It could be said that he is above average in his development, compared to a typical child in his age bracket.

Moving with Reflexes

Responding with Reflexes

When Scout was five months old, he came to my Yoga Tots class with his momma.  It was here that I took this simple photo of him lying on his back, holding his hands in fisted position.

Combining Simple Movements

Interacting with Objects in His Environment

Here is Scout at 13 months, opening and closing his hands as he is exploring the magic of nature in the park.  On this occasion, Scout came across sticks, leaves–both soft and crunchy, grass, and rocks; all of which were thoroughly gone over between both hands and his mouth.  He really took his time exploring nature with all of his senses.

Coordinating Simple Movements

Adjusts grasp to size and shape of toy

On Scout’s first birthday, he tagged along the back of this ride, grasping the fender with fists.  This reveals competence of making adjustments to different shapes and sizes of objects.

Exploring Complex Movements

Using Index Finger and Thumb

Scout pulls apart a crispy leaf and crumbles its bits between his index finger and thumb, while grasping the leaf itself between the index finger and thumb of the other hand.

Mastering Finer Motor Skills….

Scout still has a bit more to learn in the areas of making and expanding complex movements before he can move up to the next level for DRDP-R assessment.  He must learn how to manipulate objects using both fingers and wrist on one hand, while stabilizing an object with the other hand.  Pulling a zipper up, twisting a cap, or putting beads on a string require competency at this level.  The ability to do a task like these using both hands is necessary for developing the task of expanding complex movements.   When Scout can button a large button or turn both knobs on an Etch-A-Sketch, with both hands, simultaneously, he will be on his way to mastering his fine motor skills at this developmental level.

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