Late childhood developmental variability

motor developmentmotor development 11

Motor DevelopmentMotor Development

Developmental VariabilityDevelopmental Variability


Developmental VariabilityDevelopmental Variability

Invariance in Invariance in development sequencedevelopment sequence

Less skillful to more skillfulLess skillful to more skillful Early behaviors build on later behaviorsEarly behaviors build on later behaviors True for phylogenetic & ontongentic skillsTrue for phylogenetic & ontongentic skills


Developmental Variability (cont.)Developmental Variability (cont.)

Variance in Variance in raterate of development & of development & choiceschoices of certain behaviorsof certain behaviors

Each person develops at own rateEach person develops at own rate Each person varies in competence (skill)Each person varies in competence (skill) Each person varies in activity choicesEach person varies in activity choices


Factors Influencing Developmental VariabilityFactors Influencing Developmental Variability

Organismic FactorsOrganismic Factors


Sociocultural EffectsSociocultural Effects

Other Organismic Constraints Personal attributesPersonal attributes

Self-esteem (value we place on ourselves)Self-esteem (value we place on ourselves)

Self-concept (perception of self)Self-concept (perception of self)



Organismic Constraints Perceived Sport Ability in ChildrenPerceived Sport Ability in Children

Boys are expected to better in sportBoys are expected to better in sport Boys tend to perceive their sport ability as highBoys tend to perceive their sport ability as high Girls less likely to feel this way unless they Girls less likely to feel this way unless they

participate in sportparticipate in sport Boys who are not “athletic” may have lower self-Boys who are not “athletic” may have lower self-

esteem. Not necessarily true for girlsesteem. Not necessarily true for girls


Heredity v. EnvironmentHeredity v. Environment

Heredity sets the potential for growth, but health Heredity sets the potential for growth, but health and environment determine the degree to which and environment determine the degree to which

the potential is achieved (Herkowitz, 1980)the potential is achieved (Herkowitz, 1980)



SocializationSocialization - process of learning the - process of learning the rules, regulations, & expectations of a rules, regulations, & expectations of a societysociety

Social behavior affects motor development, Social behavior affects motor development, & motor development affects socialization& motor development affects socialization



Socializing AgentsSocializing Agents



Socializing Agents FamilyFamily

Most important early socializing agentMost important early socializing agent Parents of same-sex has greatest influenceParents of same-sex has greatest influence Siblings can have effect on movement choiceSiblings can have effect on movement choice Child-rearing practicesChild-rearing practices Other factors related to family Other factors related to family (parents smoke, where you live, # of (parents smoke, where you live, # of

siblings, # of parents, etc..)siblings, # of parents, etc..)



Socializing Agents (cont). FamilyFamily (cont.) (cont.)

Other factors related to family Other factors related to family do parents smokedo parents smoke where you livewhere you live number of siblingsnumber of siblings number of parents in householdnumber of parents in household birth order (do you have older siblings?)birth order (do you have older siblings?)



Socializing Agents (cont.) PeersPeers (early childhood) (early childhood)

Reinforce sport participation started by parentsReinforce sport participation started by parents Can make-up for non-parental encouragementCan make-up for non-parental encouragement Early play groups often continue later in Early play groups often continue later in

childhood (are group members “into” sports?)childhood (are group members “into” sports?)



Socializing Agents (cont.) PeersPeers (adolescence) (adolescence)

More formal peer groups (cliques, sport teams)More formal peer groups (cliques, sport teams) sport peer groups can draw in new memberssport peer groups can draw in new members sport peer groups especially important for girlssport peer groups especially important for girls

Also time for “peer pressure”. Also time for “peer pressure”. boys expected to be athletic. True for girls?boys expected to be athletic. True for girls?


Peer GroupsPeer Groups

Do persons join peer groups because of Do persons join peer groups because of common interest of group members, or do common interest of group members, or do persons chose a group because they like persons chose a group because they like group members and want to take up their group members and want to take up their

interests?interests?



Socializing Agents (cont.) Coaches and TeachersCoaches and Teachers

Important for boys throughout life; girls mostly in Important for boys throughout life; girls mostly in adolescenceadolescence

Can stimulate participation or “turn you off”Can stimulate participation or “turn you off” Bad experience with coach or PE teacher can have Bad experience with coach or PE teacher can have

lifelong implicationslifelong implications



Social SituationsSocial Situations



Social Situations Play environmentsPlay environments

Need adequate space for playNeed adequate space for play what activities fit into urban environments?what activities fit into urban environments? what activities fit into suburban environments?what activities fit into suburban environments? what activities fit into rural environments?what activities fit into rural environments?

Where you liveWhere you live What sports are popular where you live?What sports are popular where you live?



Social Situations (cont.) Sex-type environmentsSex-type environments

Boys called “sissy” for jumping ropeBoys called “sissy” for jumping rope Girls called “tom boy” for playing basketballGirls called “tom boy” for playing basketball Are there “boy toys” and “girl toys”?Are there “boy toys” and “girl toys”?


Sex-typingSex-typing

Traditional male activities (team sports) promote Traditional male activities (team sports) promote the development of locomotor and ball skills. the development of locomotor and ball skills.

Girls often not afforded same amount of Girls often not afforded same amount of practice time - affects skill developmentpractice time - affects skill development



Other FactorsOther Factors



Racial DifferencesRacial Differences African-American v. whiteAfrican-American v. white

Are there differences in motor performance?Are there differences in motor performance? Are they due to physiological differences?Are they due to physiological differences? Are they due to cultural differences?Are they due to cultural differences?

Asian and Hispanic Asian and Hispanic Are there physiological differences?Are there physiological differences? Are there cultural differences?Are there cultural differences?



Socio-Economic Status Socio-Economic Status (SES)(SES) Poor nutritionPoor nutrition Fewer toys and stimulationFewer toys and stimulation Fewer play environmentsFewer play environments Less instruction and practice timeLess instruction and practice time

Dominant group in “ghetto” tends to be best in Dominant group in “ghetto” tends to be best in basketballbasketball


Religious Groups and Physical ActivityReligious Groups and Physical Activity

Does being a member of a particular religious or Does being a member of a particular religious or ethnic group negatively (or positively) influence ethnic group negatively (or positively) influence physical activity and sport participation?physical activity and sport participation? HinduHindu (“Bend it Like Beckham”) (“Bend it Like Beckham”) JewishJewish (“Full-Court Miracle”) (“Full-Court Miracle”) IslamIslam (Strict code for women and dress/activity) (Strict code for women and dress/activity) Asian CultureAsian Culture (academics before athletics) (academics before athletics) Other ….Other ….



Gender DifferencesGender Differences Are their physiological differences?Are their physiological differences? Are there differences in motor performance?Are there differences in motor performance? Are there differences in activity choice?Are there differences in activity choice? Are there differences in how boys and girls Are there differences in how boys and girls

play and learn?play and learn?


Youth SportsYouth Sports

Do youth sports promoteDo youth sports promote

developmental variability?developmental variability?



Youth sports and developmental variability?Youth sports and developmental variability?

Extra practice - improved skillsExtra practice - improved skills Bad experience can lead to drop outsBad experience can lead to drop outs Lack of participation - may lead to less skillsLack of participation - may lead to less skills



Benefits of youth sportsBenefits of youth sports Costs of youth sportsCosts of youth sports



Why do kids play sportsWhy do kids play sports Why do kids drop outWhy do kids drop out



More children are participatingMore children are participating Title IXTitle IX Greater accessibility of programsGreater accessibility of programs Glorification of sportsGlorification of sports Youth sports great baby sitter!Youth sports great baby sitter!



What are objectives of youth sports?What are objectives of youth sports? Social & moral developmentSocial & moral development Cognitive developmentCognitive development Motor, physical, and fitness developmentMotor, physical, and fitness development

Do they meet these objectives?Do they meet these objectives?

Education

Late childhood developmental variability