Babies come into the world with many innate abilities, or
abilities that are present from birth. At birth, they possess motor reflexes such as
the sucking reflex and the grasping reflex. Newborns can also hear, smell, touch,
taste, and see, and these sensory abilities develop quickly.
Motor Development
Motor development also progresses quickly. Motor
development is the increasing coordination of muscles
that makes physical movements possible. Developmental norms tell us
the median age at which babies develop specific behaviors and abilities. Babies
often deviate a fair amount from these norms.
Researchers used to think motor skill development could be
explained mostly by maturation, genetically programmed
growth and development. According to this view, babies learn to sit up, pull
themselves to a standing position, and walk at particular ages because they
are hard-wired that way. However, recent research suggests that motor
development isn’t just a passive process. Although maturation plays a large
role, babies also actively develop motor skills by moving around and
exploring their environments. Both maturation and experience
influence motor development.
Cultural differences also affect how quickly motor skills develop,
although the timing and sequence of early motor skill development remains
similar across all cultures.