CECE Physical Development & Motor Skills 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which principle of motor development states that development proceeds from head to toe?
- Proximodistal principle
- Cephalocaudal principle (Correct answer)
- Sequential development principle
- Hierarchical principle
Correct answer: Cephalocaudal principle
The cephalocaudal principle describes how motor development progresses from the head downward through the trunk and eventually to the legs and feet.
Question 2: At what age do most typically developing children begin walking independently?
- 6–8 months
- 9–11 months
- 12–15 months (Correct answer)
- 18–24 months
Correct answer: 12–15 months
Most children take their first independent steps between 12 and 15 months, though a range of 9–18 months is considered within normal development.
Question 3: Which of the following is classified as a locomotor skill?
- Throwing a ball
- Catching a beanbag
- Galloping across the gym (Correct answer)
- Balancing on one foot
Correct answer: Galloping across the gym
Locomotor skills involve moving the body through space, and galloping is a foundational locomotor movement alongside running, jumping, hopping, and skipping.
Question 4: The proximodistal principle of motor development means development proceeds:
- From simple tasks to complex tasks
- From the trunk outward to the extremities (Correct answer)
- From large muscles to small muscles
- From head to toe
Correct answer: From the trunk outward to the extremities
The proximodistal principle describes development that originates at the center (trunk) of the body and moves outward toward the hands and feet.
Question 5: A 4-year-old who cannot yet hop on one foot may be demonstrating:
- Advanced gross motor skill
- Typical gross motor variation
- A potential gross motor delay (Correct answer)
- A fine motor concern
Correct answer: A potential gross motor delay
Hopping on one foot is typically mastered between ages 3 and 4, so inability at age 4 may indicate a gross motor delay warranting further observation or referral.
Question 6: Which playground activity BEST supports the development of gross motor balance in preschoolers?
- Finger painting at an easel
- Walking across a balance beam (Correct answer)
- Threading large beads
- Tearing paper for collage
Correct answer: Walking across a balance beam
Walking on a balance beam directly challenges and strengthens the vestibular system and large muscle coordination needed for balance.
Question 7: Which of the following best describes an object control skill?
- Running in a zigzag pattern
- Jumping over a rope
- Striking a ball with a bat (Correct answer)
- Skipping down a hallway
Correct answer: Striking a ball with a bat
Object control skills (also called manipulative skills) involve controlling an object with the hands, feet, or an implement, such as throwing, catching, kicking, or striking.
