A large study by the Centre for Longitudinal Studies analyzed the data of 15,000 children in the United Kingdom. The data revealed that 1 in 10 children exhibited delays in gross and fine motor development at 9 months of age. The delay in motor development at 9 months was significantly associated with delayed cognitive development at 5 years of age. In addition, the delays in gross motor skill development at 9 months had a significant impact on a child's behavior at 5 years of age. The researchers also determined that a good mother child relationship significantly benefits the cognitive and behavioral traits of children in poverty. Read the full press release here.
Reference: Simple tests in babyhood ‘could point to children who need help with learning’ Retrieved from the web on 2/18/2010 from http://www.cls.ioe.ac.uk/news.asp?section=000100010003&item=557
3 comments:
I could do a lot with a good study that shows these results, but a secondary reference isn't much help. I hope they push the study through a journal publication. Barbara
PS (I'm behind reading here!)
Barbara,
My big question with a study like this is causal relationship, which can not be determined. Is there motor delays because there will be future cognitive delays? Or do the motor delays result in cognitive delays? I agree, there is no mention of the study being published in journal.
Agreeing with you, Margaret. I could be that supine sleeping delays motor development - or - that parents overdo the supine position for their babies resulting in both plagiocephaly and motor delay. Barbara
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