Japan Journal of Human Growth and Development Research
Online ISSN : 1884-359X
Print ISSN : 1340-8682
ISSN-L : 1340-8682
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The developmental process of the “foresee-movement” among young children in catching a bouncing ball:data from a two-year longitudinal survey
Mami UmemotoChiaki OhtakaMotoko Fujiwara
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JOURNAL FREE ACCESS

2017 Volume 2017 Issue 74 Pages 45-55

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Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the longitudinal developmental process of the “foresee-movement” in young children(3-4 year and 4-5 year old)over the period of two years. Forty-five young children participated in this study and completed a parabolic-line task. In this task, an experimenter threw the ball to a height of about 1.6 m from the floor toward a drop point 2 m in front of the participant. The participant was told to move forward 1 m and catch the ball after the first bounce. The participants' catching movements were video recorded from the right. The catching movement was classified into six patterns:(1) no movement;(2)the ball bounced once and passed over the head;(3)the ball was caught after two bounces;(4)an attempt was made to catch the ball after one bounce, but the ball could not be touched;(5) an attempt was made to catch the ball after one bounce, but the ball was knocked away;and(6)the ball was caught after one bounce.

As a result, the catching rate increased with age. “Total motion time” and “Movement time” shortened with participant's age. The movement-patterns of the 3 and 4-year-old children were classified into Patterns 1-3. Many of the movement-patterns among the 5-year-old children, on the other hand, were classified as Pattern 5. Motion-Pattern 6 increased significantly between the ages of 4 and 5.

Obviously, young children are able to increasingly anticipate the track of the ball and estimate their own movements as they age. Foresee-movement gradually develops with age, even if the catching movement is classified as a failure.

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© 2017 Japan Society of Human Growth and Development
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