Supporting Sensory and Motor Development

Singapore University of Social Sciences

Supporting Sensory and Motor Development (ECE200)

Synopsis

Young children grow to be acquainted to the world through sensory exploration and experiences; as well as through physical exploration with their bodies. Building on earlier child development courses such as ECE102 and ECE106, this compulsory course aims to help students understand key milestones in infants’, toddlers’ and pre-schoolers’ motor development, as well as understand the importance of adults’ influence over young children’s propensity to attend, focus and investigate with all their senses. Strategies for engaging children of diverse abilities are introduced, along with discussions of intended outcomes and ways to integrate sensory and motor learning in a typical Singaporean infant/toddler and preschool programme.

Level: 2
Credit Units: 5
Presentation Pattern: EVERY JAN

Topics

The sensory system and its relation to other developmental domains
How children learn through their senses
Children’s fine motor and gross motor development and their connection to children’s well-being
Reflexive development and gross motor development
Maria Montessori’s approach to developing the senses and practical life skills
Physical and sensorial play for infants and toddlers
Physical and sensorial play for pre-schoolers
Creating a conducive indoor and outdoor environment
Facilitating pre-schoolers’ gross motor activities (indoors and outdoors)
Balancing child-initiated and adult-initiated play
Supporting developmental variations and individual needs
Supporting children with special needs

Learning Outcome

Explain how the sensory system functions and how young children learn through sensorial experiences.
Relate major motor developmental milestones and relate theory to child observations.
Illustrate ways in which child-initiated and adult-initiated play activities can support sensory and motor development.
Examine ways to provide a conducive indoor and outdoor learning environment.
Develop physical and sensorial play activities that are beneficial for children of different ages.
Implement sensorial play activities for children with diverse learning needs.