Places and Postures

Abstract

Motor development—traditionally described in terms of age-related stages—is typically studied in the laboratory with participants of Western European descent. Cross-cultural studies typically focus on group differences in age-related stages relative to Western norms. We adopted a less traditional approach: We observed 5-month-olds and their mothers from six cultural groups around the world during one hour at home while they engaged in natural daily activities. We examined group differences in infants’ sitting proficiency, everyday opportunities to practice sitting, the surfaces on which sitting took place, and mothers’ proximity to sitting infants. Infants had opportunities to practice sitting in varied contexts—including ground, infant chairs, and raised surfaces. Proficiency varied considerably within and between cultural groups: 64% of the sample sat only with support from mother or furniture and 36% sat independently. Some infants sat unsupported for 20+ minutes, in some cases so securely that mothers moved beyond arms’ reach of their infants even while infants sat on raised surfaces. Our observations of infant sitting across cultures provide new insights into the striking range of ability, varied opportunities for practice, and contextual factors that influence the proficiency of infant motor skills.

Power in methods: language to infants in structured and naturalistic contexts

“…However, when developmental scientists venture outside the laboratory to wade in the murky waters of everyday life, they are often surprised by what they uncover. Fivemonth-old Cameroonian infants deftly sit on high benches with hands free for up to 30 minutes as their mothers go about daily chores (Karasik, Tamis-LeMonda, Adolph & Bornstein, 2015b), an observation that stands in striking contrast to the sitting onset norms of 7-8 months that have been established in US laboratorybased studies (Martorell, Onis, Martines, Black, Onyango et al, 2006). Conversely, infants in Tajikistan spend up to 21 hours a day in a 'ghavora' cradle, their limbs and torso snugly bound by cords of satin and their vision obstructed by a drape placed over the cradle.…”

The Fluid Construction of Spatial Concepts in Infancy

“…Although the role of culture in the emergence and development of concepts is imaginable, empirical research that focuses on the first two years is still limited [Karasik, Tamis-LeMonda, Adolph, & Bornstein, 2015]. Alessandroni and Rodríguez's work [this issue] helps fill this critical gap.…”

Two Cultural Models on Infant Motor Development: Middle Class Parents in Israel and the Netherlands

“…Ever since the ages and stages of motor development have first been documented, context-specific variation in type and timing of motor development have been reported (Karasik et al, 2015). In particular, motor development in non-Western countries was found to differ from Western norms and these differences were related to differences in parental practices (for an overview see, Cintas, 1995;Adolph et al, 2010;Karasik et al, 2015).…”

“…Ever since the ages and stages of motor development have first been documented, context-specific variation in type and timing of motor development have been reported (Karasik et al, 2015). In particular, motor development in non-Western countries was found to differ from Western norms and these differences were related to differences in parental practices (for an overview see, Cintas, 1995;Adolph et al, 2010;Karasik et al, 2015). Also within the 'Western world' cultural variability in the timing of motor milestones attainment is documented (e.g., WHO Multicentre Growth Reference Study Group and de Onis, 2006;De Kegel et al, 2013;Steenis et al, 2015).…”