Abstract
In order to clarify the time of development meal taking function among systemic functions, we surveyed 89 kindergarten children from 0 to 5 years of age in Y city. Primitive reflexes, keeping proper posture, oral muscle movement function, proper eating style, systemic function, speech function, and eruption of teeth were surveyed with regard to the time of development. The following results, expressed as mean values, were obtained I 1. The frequency of chewing increased with age. 2. The sucking reflex disappeared fastest and the biting reflex was the slowest to disappear. 3. We found that 50% of the subjects could support their necks by 6.5 months and could walk alone by 12.8 months. 4. Chewing with teeth occurred about 2 months after "pushing-out" swallowing. 5. Hand to mouth eating began at about 1 year, afterward the infants began to use their spoons or cups. 6. We found that 50% of the subjects could run at 22.5 months without falling, and jump at 30.8months. 7. We found that 50% of the subjects spoke sentences containing some words at 29.2 months, and 2 months later their pronunciation became clear. By 3 years of age, they had high speech ability using compound sentences and interrogative words. 8. The subjects front teeth erupted at 9〜10 months, and their molars erupted at 13.9 months.
