幼児期における定位能力・分化能力の発達的特性：投・跳動作に着目して

抄録

The purpose of this study was to reveal the developmental characteristics of orientation and differentiation abilities in early childhood, focusing on the throwing and jumping motion. Research participants were two hundred and eighty three children aged 3.0 to 6.5 (146 boys and 137 girls) . They were given 4 coordination ability tests. As a result of this study, three things related to the developmental process of the orientation and differentiation abilities were found. First of all, phenomena that the means of each test result stagnated or declined temporarily and then rose remarkably were observed. This suggested that the development of orientation and differentiation abilities was not a linear process. Rather this process was similar to the phenomenon on the stage of acquisition and improvement in “developmental process of motor learning”. Secondly, it demonstrates that there were differences of developmental characteristics of the orientation and differentiation abilities between boys and girls. The results of the tests included throwing motion showed that these phenomena happened with boys six months earlier than girls. On the other hand, the result of the test included jumping motion showed this phenomenon happened with girls six months earlier than boys. Finally, we found that the means of each test result rose remarkably around 4 and a half years old. This is the same period defined as a critical developmental period, which is called “developmental turning point at the age of 4 and a half years old”. This research has revealed that the developmental characteristics of orientation and differentiation ability in early childhood should be understood from the dual points of both motor development and cognitive development.