This review article identifies the conceptual underpinnings of current movement research in physical education. Using a hermeneutic approach, four analogies for movement education are identified: the "motor program analogy", the "neurobiological systems analogy", the "instinctive movement analogy", and the…

The article stresses the importance of play and playgrounds for children's social, physical, and psychological development. It presents data from a national survey of the status and design of play equipment at elementary schools, suggests ways of making equipment safer, and offers basic principles of play center design. (CB)

Simple observation of dance movement, while very useful, can lead to misconceptions, about the physical realities of dance movement, that make learning difficult. This gap between reality and understanding can be reduced by the application of biomechanical techniques such as cinematography, electromyography, and force-plate analysis. Biomechanical…

The development of ontogenetic movements--complex, learned skills such as throwing--is greatly influenced by socialization experiences provided by parents. Girls, as well as boys, should be given the opportunity to learn and develop these skills during preschool years. (PP)

The concept of attention in sport is important because the inability to process the right kind and amount of information may lead to a mismatch in perception and consequent motor output. Research has shown that the ability to choose between relevant and irrelevant information increases dramatically at about 12 years of age. By giving up the…

This review examines 20 journal articles and three papers related to the use of music and creative movement to teach language. The paper considers the evidence of a possible shift away from separating these arts from core subjects in the schools. Both historic and experimental field research is assessed in light of ideas found in Broudy (1990),…

Some of the more frequently observed reflex patterns in cerebral palsy are examined, and descriptions are given of how they affect movement. A chart outlines: (1) desirable movement patterns; (2) typical abnormal movement of the cerebral palsied child; (3) possible physical cause of abnormal movements; and (4) activities which may facilitate…

After a brief overview of theory related to motor skill development in children, an update on approaches to motor development assessment and programming is provided. Descriptive/product, process-oriented/diagnostic, process/descriptive, and reflex testing approaches taken in motor ability assessment are reviewed, and some of the strengths and…

The Basic Stuff project is an effort to include more general concepts such as the effects of exercise, the learning of a new skill, and psychological factors influencing performance. The Basic Stuff Series attempts to summarize for teachers appropriate concepts and teaching methods. (JN)

Perceptual-motor functioning is a cyclic process involving: (1) organizing incoming sensory stimuli with past or stored perceptual information; (2) making motor (internal) decisions based on the combination of sensory (present) and perceptual (past) information; (3) executing the actual movement (observable act) itself; and (4) evaluating the act…

Early exploratory activities enable children to develop motor skills. Boys and girls must be provided similar experiences in movement. Teachers should provide experiences in which children can be successful. Situations in which children initially fail, but later learn to persist and try alternative solutions, are valuable. (BC)

Reviews a range of material written about the use of the Alexander Technique in educating children to acquire better kinesthetic awareness of balance and body movement, and introduces briefly the theoretical principles underpinning Alexander's teaching. Presents curriculum issues for young children and the teacher awareness required to educate…

Eight papers present information about children's motor development and its application for program design. Jerry R. Thomas, Kathi T. Thomas, and Jere D. Gallagher discuss "Children's Processing of Information in Physical Activity and Sport." In "Toward Inclusion," G. S. Don Morris considers characteristics of children and of motor tasks with…

This paper reviews recent literature in the field of fine motor control and training, its theory, practice, and evaluation. The paper is organized into sections dealing with (1) definitions, (2) motor learning in general for developmentally normal and handicapped persons, (3) training methods and concepts, (4) evaluation, (5) other areas, (6)…

This monograph on sport skill development: (1) raises questions concerning the teaching and learning of sport skills; (2) provides a general information base from which answers may be derived; and (3) identifies teaching strategies which appear to facilitate sport skill learning. The monograph's intent is to raise questions as well as to suggest…