Abstract
The purpose of this study was to clarify the developmental process as a result of which children come to regulate their actions in relation to specified tempos. Forty-four children without disabilities (MAs from 3 to 6 years) and 44 children with mental retardation (MAs from 3 to 6 years) were instructed to synchronize their clapping and stepping with two specified tempos. The tempos were decided for each subject on the basis of that child's personal tempo. The personal tempo was measured from the child's clapping and stepping. Children with autism or Down syndrome were not included in the sample of children with mental retardation. The results were as follows: 1. Each subject was found to have a particular personal tempo. 2. The ability to synchronize actions with specified tempos improved with increasing mental age. 3. Remarkable progress was found between MA 3 and 4 years, and between MA 5 and 6 years. 4. Improvement in the ability of the subjects with mental retardation was not related to chronological age, but was closely related to mental age. 5. The ability to synchronize with specified tempos by clapping the hands was acquired at MA 6 years, and by stepping, above MA 7 years.
