The effect of early perceptual-motor enrichment on later development of gross motor processes in infants

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of early perceptual-motor enrichment on later development of gross motor processes in infants. Materials & Methods: Fifteen healthy full-term infants with the age range of five to eight months were randomly recruited from a nursery and then assigned to two groups according to their age: training (n=8, age=6.5±2 mo) and nontraining (n=8, age=6.5±2 mo). Both groups were homogeneous in terms of age. Subjects in training group underwent thirty-six one-hour training sessions in a perceptual-motor enriched environment (supplied with various manipulable and movable tools) for 12 weeks. At the end of program, the subjects’ gross motor skills were evaluated for the first time using Peabody motor development scale. For the following three months, all infants were kept in similar and normal conditions. At the end of this period, the infants’ gross motor skills were evaluated for the second time via the same scale. Data were analyzed through mixed ANOA 2 (group) × (stage). Results: Study results indicated that in terms of gross motor age equivalent, the main effect of group(F(1,10)=15.5 , P=.003 ) and the main effect of assessment stages(F(1,10)=56.95 , P=.001) was significant. Interaction between group and assessment stages (F (1, 10) =1.95, P=.19) was not significant. Considering gross motor scaled score, however, the main effect of group (F (1, 10) =8.53, P=.015) and the main effect of assessment stages (F (1, 10) =151.60, P=.001) was significant. Interaction between group and assessment stages (F (1, 10) =.66, P=.43) was not significant. Conclusion: Generally speaking, these results show that training and experience has positive effects on the development of later gross motor skills in the infant. Keywords: perceptual-motor enrichment, Peabody motor development scale, gross motor development