For your response, choose a post that discussed an age range that was different than your chosen age range (4 year old) and compare and contrast how the motor and linguistic milestones vary among the age range you chose and that of your peers. Then, after watching the video Top Warning Signs Your Child is Developmentally Delayed, discuss one way to identify a motor, language, and/or cognitive delay in children (Pollack, n.d.).

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Relationships Between Cognitive, Language, and Motor Development

The age group I choose to discuss are six and seven-year-old children and their cognitive, linguistic, and motor milestones. According to the videos, I watched regarding these milestones in 6 &7-year old’s, at this age children can make the right decision, their attention span is much longer and can use complex problem-solving skills. Children at this age have about 7,000 words in their vocabulary and can speak to parents, teachers, peers, etc. in complete sentences. Children at this age have developed the fine and gross motor skills which allow them to have control of their body and hands. They can jump up and down, run, do summersaults, ride a bike on their own, dance, etc. Their hand-eye coordination and good balance which allows them to play different sports like basketball, soccer, and football; just to name a few (Pollack, 2013).

Six and seven-year-old children can use abstract and logical thinking which allows them to figure out how to communicate whether something is wrong or right. Their good motor development allows them to figure complex situations like tying their shoes. Language and motor skill development are both associated with Broca area of the brain. According to the website Encyclopedia Britannica (2017), “Broca area, also known as, the convolution of Broca is the region of the brain that contains neurons involved with speech function. This area of the brain is also involved in language comprehension and motor-related activities associated with hand movements” (Encyclopedia Britannica, 2017).

An example of the relationship between language and motor skills is a child communicating directions while demonstrating them their hands. For example, during the whole group reading a child may use their finger to point and touch each word in the book as the read the story out loud to the teacher and their peers. The child is using their fine motor skills to point to each word, and because of many words in a six and seven-year old's vocabulary, they can read the words in the book.

To encourage cognitive developmental skills in six and seven-year-old, I will use the knowledge that they have already obtained and created tasks that critically think. For example, if we are reading a story I would not only have them answer questions about the story but, extend our change the story using their ideas. To help the students build a stronger vocabulary, I would introduce advanced vocabulary words and have the find the definition, memorize it, and then incorporate the word in a sentence throughout the week. During our daily routine of having recess, I would make sure all students either run, throw a ball, dance, etc. to make sure they are strengthening their fine and gross motor skills.

References

Encyclopedia Britannica. (2017, February 17). Broca Area. Retrieved from Encyclopedia Britannica: https://www.britannica.com/science/Broca-area

Pollack, S. (2013, September 29). Age 6 & Age 7 Cognitive Milestones | Child Development. Retrieved from Howcast: http://www.howcast.com/videos/513295-age-6-age-7-c...