Cuprins
Since the second half of the XNUMXth century, many researchers have focused on the psychomotor development of young children. Some constants emerge from these various studies: while babies have many more skills than previously believed, they also have physiological and psychological limitations. Their development takes place within this framework. It is by no means a straitjacket, but a basis on which the personality of each child will develop at its own pace.
Newborn reflexes
All babies (except in cases of disability) are born with the same starting potential, which is very promising. And the same limits, transitory. A newborn baby cannot hold his head upright or sit still, his muscle tone being very low in the head and trunk. For the same reason, when lying down, it resumes the fetal position, legs and arms folded. His bodybuilding will be strengthened from the head to the feet (cephalo-caudal direction). This does not prevent it from moving, from birth. Yes, but without the intervention of his will. His body reacts spontaneously to stimulation with involuntary movements. These movements provide new sensations to which the body reacts. The beginnings of psychomotor development (between 3 and 6 months) will be played out on the transition from so-called archaic reflexes, acquired during birth, to voluntary movements.
Some newborn reflexes are vital. The sucking reflex, triggered by a simple touch of the contours of the mouth; the rooting reflex, which completes the previous one by turning the head to the requested side; the swallowing reflex, triggered by the contact of the tongue with the wall of the pharynx; repression of the tongue which, for up to 3 months, allows it to reject solid food in the anterior part of the mouth; and finally, those of hiccups, yawns and sneezes.
Others testify to his emotions. In stressful situations, for example when the baby is lifted and he feels his head go backwards, the Moro (or embrace) reflex is triggered: the arms and fingers move apart, the body tends and stiffens, then returns to its initial position. The Galant reflex (or trunk curvature) causes it to arch in reaction to an excitation of the skin of the back, near the spine.
Other reflexes foreshadow his later controlled movements. As soon as it is in an upright position, the automatic walk makes the newborn sketch steps (on the soles of the feet if it is born at term, on their tip if it is premature). The step-over reflex allows him to lift the foot as soon as the back of it touches an obstacle. The swimming reflex causes automatic swimming movements, while it blocks its breathing as soon as it is immersed. The gripping reflex (or grasping-reflex) makes your hand close if you rub your palm, temporarily preventing him from grabbing anything.
On the brain side, the selection and connection of cells is not complete… The operation takes a total of four years! The nervous system’s information relay network operates at a still slow pace. A baby’s memory does not have large storage capacities, but his senses are awakened! And the newborn, positive by nature, makes full use of those who are already functioning very well: hearing, touch and taste. His sight first allows him to distinguish only light from darkness; it will improve from its first days and, around 4 months, he will see the details.
This is how he receives information, through the senses. But, it does not take long to treat them, since, from his 2 months, he can send conscious smiles, a sign that he is entering into communication with those around him.
The need to experience babies
Young children are constantly improving. Not linearly: there are leaps forward, stagnations, backtracking… But all are moving towards the acquisition of fundamental skills that open the way to autonomy. Whatever their own rhythm and “style”, they proceed according to the same method.
The child relies on what he has learned to progress. He waits to have assimilated a novelty to take the next step. Wise precaution! But who has nothing thoughtful. Once launched, the difficulties no longer stop it. His achievements are accumulating. He sometimes neglects one area for the benefit of another which monopolizes him (language for the benefit of walking, drawing for the benefit of language, etc.) because he cannot concentrate on everything at the same time. But what he knows, he has, and when the time comes, he will set out again on the bases previously assimilated.
Another principle of acquisition: the toddler proceeds by experimentation. He acts first, then he thinks. Until 2 years, only the immediate present exists for him. Little by little, he is learning from what he has experienced. His thought is structured, but always from the concrete. Know it, he tests tirelessly. He repeats the same gestures, the same words… and the same nonsense! This in order to check: first his observations, his knowledge, then, later, the limits that you set him. Even if he shows impatience in front of failures, nothing weakens his pugnacity. Consequence: you yourselves are condemned to repeat yourselves!
Another characteristic: it does not assess its possibilities very clearly. Sometimes your child pulls back in front of an obstacle that in your eyes he could easily cross. Sometimes he ignores danger, quite simply because he does not have the notion. Until he is 2 years old, to encourage him as well as to hold him back, rely on persuading your tone of voice, rather than on words, the meaning of which escapes him. Then until about 4 years old, reality and imagination merge in his mind.
He does not lie: he communicates to you the productions of his fertile brain. It’s up to you to disentangle the true from the false! But there is no point in berating him.
His natural egocentricity, an essential stage in his psychological development, which lasts for up to 7 years, makes him impervious to explanations. He just doesn’t envision being thought differently from him. Yet he receives bans five out of five; he even appreciates them because they signal him that you are watching over him. You should not give up on explaining, but without expecting any other benefit than the already enormous benefit of creating a climate of trust and dialogue between you.
Very early on, he moved towards autonomy, even before the “opposition crisis” that would make him, around the age of two. (and for two good years!), a systematic rebel who will put your patience to the test. Failing to have the mastery of situations, he likes to make himself believe it. You are therefore invested with an impossible mission: to ensure its protection and education, without showing too much your presence. In other words, raising him so that he can do without you … Cruel, but inevitable!
Encourage your baby
If there is one thing this demanding little being is not reluctant to do, it is to receive your affection. He needs encouragement. This adventurer with insatiable curiosity, who takes up formidable challenges and never lets himself be diverted from his goal, who protests and rages more often than in his turn, this conqueror is a tender, extremely vulnerable. As we can “break” it by treating it harshly, we can also give it confidence in oneself and in life, by the simple power of tenderness. We can never congratulate a child too much, moreover a little one, for having taken a new step or conquered a fear.
The power of parents is immense; while claiming to lead the game, the child values the opinions of those who represent his guides and role models. Their love matters to him above all. We must be careful not to abuse this power. A child must progress on his own, not to please those around him. And it would be unfortunate if he blocks or regresses in order to attract the attention of parents who are too distracted for his liking.
Very intuitive, he perceives the intention under the words. First, because he does not understand the meaning of the words. Then, having observed his parents more than they suspect, being familiar with their behavior and always endowed with a very sensitive sensitivity, he captures their moods. Seeing himself as the center of the world, he soon thinks that they depend on his behavior. Sometimes with good reason! But he can also accuse himself of worries or sorrows for which he is absolutely not responsible and seek to remedy them by adapting his behavior, at worst by stifling his personality.
His penchant for contradiction is only a facade. Above all, he seeks to respond to demand, as he perceives it. If you tend to overprotect him, he may curb his impulses to make you happy. If you stimulate him too much, he may see himself as always a little below your requirements and either brave his limits at the expense of his safety, or forfeit and withdraw into himself.
It often progresses in leaps forward … sometimes giving the impression of having “a metro behind.” It is up to parents to deploy great adaptability in order to keep up to date. In fact, very quickly, nothing will be more disagreeable to the little one than to believe that he is being treated like a “baby”. He draws his information from all sources: at school, from adults around him, from games, books and of course cartoons. He is building a world of his own, where you are no longer systematically invited. Certainly, you must rectify the fanciful rumors that circulate in the playgrounds if they are dangerous. But let him think for himself, even differently from you!
The game to awaken your baby
The educational virtues of play have long been recognized by all professionals. While playing, the child exercises his skill, his imagination, his thinking … But this educational dimension remains totally foreign to him. Only one thing interests him: to have fun.
Above all, stay natural. Better to admit that you don’t want to play (at the time!) Than to force yourself to do so. Your child would then sense your reluctance. And you would all lose the main benefit of the game together: share a moment of complicity and strengthen ties. Likewise, you have every right to prefer certain games to others and to express that preference to them.
Don’t spoil the fun by setting goals. You would also risk putting it in a situation of failure if it does not achieve the desired result. On the other hand, if he is aiming for a goal himself, encourage him to pursue it. Help him only to the extent that he asks for it: succeeding “on his own” is fundamental, not only for the satisfaction of his ego, but also for him to locate and assimilate the operations which have led him to success. If he gets bored or annoyed, suggest another activity. Wanting to complete a game at all costs does little more than depreciate it.
Let yourself be guided by his fantasy. He likes to lead the dance. It is quite natural: it is in its domain, the only one where you do not make the law. Does he not follow the rules of the game or upset them along the way? No matter. He does not necessarily seek to eliminate difficulties. He follows his new idea of the moment.
Renunță your logic in the locker room. You enter an imaginary world that does not belong to you. From 3 years old, your ignorance of the codes followed by his favorite heroes or your perplexity in front of a transformable toy offer him – finally! – an advantage over you.
Board games signal the hour for initiation into the rules. Around 3 years old too. Of course, these must remain accessible to him. But asking him to respect them helps him to accept, little by little, certain laws of collective life: keep calm, accept to lose, wait his turn …
Who to ask for help?
Worried would it not be synonymous with parent? The nagging fear of doing wrong sometimes causes a feeling of very great loneliness in the face of so many responsibilities. Fault ! Professionals are there to offer parents solutions to all problems.
ZILNIC
The nursery nurses or the qualified nursery assistants are very familiar with the principles and all the stages of psychomotor development. Living alongside your child on a daily basis, they also bring a more serene look to him. Maintaining a dialogue with them therefore often helps to put things into perspective.
Teachers, from kindergarten, provide valuable information on the behavior of the child during activities but also with his classmates. The pediatrician or the attending physician is always the first point of contact. If there is a problem, he identifies it, then, if necessary, refers to a specialist.
IN CASE OF PROVEN DIFFICULTIES
The psychomotor therapist intervenes on motor disorders, for example lateralization. If his work (based on games, drawings and movements) makes him discover psychological concerns, he talks about it to parents.
Logoped acts on language disorders. He, too, informs the parents of any psychological problems he detects.
Psihologul uses speech to treat behavioral problems that can be resolved in this way. The child expresses his fears and worries to him. We consult him after having noticed symptoms of discomfort: aggressiveness, introversion, bedwetting… In agreement with the parents, he determines the duration of his intervention: from two / three sessions up to several months. He can also recommend joint sessions in the presence of the parents and the child.
Psihiatru copil treats more “heavy” behavioral disorders, such as true hyperactivity.
Pediatrul search for neurological causes for a delay or disorder of psychomotor development duly detected by the various professionals who preceded it. He then offers treatments.