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

Abstract

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.

Follow-up of the child's motor abilities in day-care centers and pre-schools

“…Thus, "opportunities for practice, encouragement, instruction, and the ecology (setting) of the environment itself, all play important roles in the degree to which fundamental movements patterns develop." (17) In this way it should be found out which were the conditions in the day-care centers that helped the Besides, the internal spaces of the 3 daycare centers are organized in corner activities such as to favor the infantile development (18)(19) . Then, it was observed that children two to three years' old seem to present a greater number of suspects.…”

Toddlers’ Play in Early Childhood Education Settings

“…Therefore, for toddlers, bodily games may have greater social importance than games with small objects. Montagner et al (1993) showed in their longitudinal study, how over a period from nine to nineteen months of age, toddlers not only developed their motor skills but also their affiliative and cooperative behaviours in a milieu that allowed moving in space with no limitation. The toddlers shared games that were fun and long-lasting with very little aggressiveness or self-centred behaviours.…”