[Emergence and development of competence in young children]. / Emergence et développement des compétences du jeune enfant.

BACKGROUND: The childhood emergence and development of motor behavioural skills is imperfectly understood despite intensive study. This report is of the development of motor skills and social behaviour in young children. POPULATION AND METHODS: 17 infants (9 boys and 8 girls) in good health, aged 8 to 11 months at the beginning of the research, were studied. They were observed in groups of 6 for 30 minutes, in a special area fitted out with climbing structures, once every two weeks for one year. Their movements and behavior were filmed. RESULTS: 1) Motor skills which allow the "conquest" of climbing structures and complex social behaviors (multimodal interactions, imitations, cooperations, anticipations of behaviors) had developed by the time the children were 12 months old and were first examined. 2) From 12 to 14-15 months old, they consolidated these motor skills and the frequency of imitations and multimodal interactions increased markedly. 3) From 14 to 18 months old, they assumed the standing position more and more during ascents and descents and the frequency and diversity of imitations and cooperations increased sharply. 4) There was relatively little aggressive behavior at all ages. CONCLUSIONS: Motor skills and social behavior appear earlier and are more complex in children moving freely among their peers in a special setting than previously reported for developmental scales.

Alternative child care in France: advances in the study of motor, interactive, and social behaviors of young children in settings allowing them to move freely in a group of peers.

This paper reports new data on the emergence and development from the 9th to 19th month of age of motor, interactive, and social behaviors of 17 children with peers in a milieu that allows the "conquest" of the third dimension of space without limitation of their motor activity. Their motor skills and social behaviors appear more precocious and complex than previously indicated by scientific publications, clinical observations, and developmental scales. 1. The motor skills that allow the "conquest" of climbing structures (ascents of a spiral staircase and a ramp) are already observed before the age of 12 months in some children (ascents of the ramp) or nearly half of them (ascents of the staircase). Complex social behaviors (multimodal interactions from here and there along a holed partition, imitations, cooperations, anticipation of the behavior of the partner) also emerge before 12 months. 2. The age range from 12 to 14 to 15 months is characterized by consolidation of the motor skills that allow the "conquest" of the third dimension of the space and a rapid increase of the imitations and interactions around the holed partition. 3. The age range from 14 to 18 months is characterized by diversification of the posturomotor patterns during ascents and descents of staircase and ramp and the growing predominance of the standing position. This is also a phase of significant increase in frequency of imitations and cooperations and of emergence of complex forms of cooperation. 4. Aggression is infrequent at all ages.