undamental Movement Phase
The fundamental movement abilities of early childhood are an outgrowth of the rudimentary movement phase of infancy. Fundamental movements are generally viewed as basic movement skills such as walking, running, throwing, and catching, which are building blocks for more highly developed and refined movement skills. This phase of motor development represents a time at which young children are actively involved in exploring and experimenting with the movement capabilities of their bodies. It is a time for discovering how to perform a variety of stabilizing, locomotor, and manipulative movements, first in isolation and then in combination with one another. Children who are developing fundamental patterns of movement are learning how to respond with motor control and movement competence to a variety of stimuli. Tables 16.5, 16.6, and 16.7 provide a descriptive overview of the typical development sequence of several fundamental stability, loco motor, and manipulative movements.