Baby voluntary movements can be taken into account as a part of baby’s physical development and the ability to use ones body and muscles in making the move. The process evolved in the motor development of the baby does not happen in a single night. It takes place gradually and certain things happen in certain time period and not before that
For example a baby learns to walk in the age group of some twelfth or fourteen month. Some babies may start a bit earlier say ninth month or so. But a baby won’t start walking or running at the age of six months. This all lies under the baby’s voluntary movement development. With time the baby manages to have a control on his muscles and coordinate them all. Later with time the baby manages to sit, to crawl, to stand and than finally walk. This time period is very special for all parents to see their baby grow and the voluntary movements to take place. This is more a part of motor development as a subpart of voluntary movements. This process of baby’s voluntary development moves from being simple in the initial stages and gradually moving towards the complex part
In a baby’s development the cephalocaudal principle plays the role. This is where the baby is developed from the head and than towards the toe. In the initial stages the head is larges as compared to other parts of the body. According to this theory and concept the muscles become active and develop from the head part first. in the beginning the neck develops, followed by the upper body including arms, than is the lower part of the trunk, than thighs and finally the legs. This takes place during the first six months. After this the hand and eye coordination takes place. This stage is very important for the baby’s back bone starts developing with the baby’s curiosity to sit and crawl.
Some reflexes that lead to baby’s voluntary development are like the reach and grasp reflex, tonic neck reflex and stepping and walking reflex. With time the baby tries to reach to every possible attractive thing or object it can. Once the babies starts sitting and if a toy is placed near by then they try to reach and grasp it. If the baby is only able to sit it is advisable to make sure that the toy is placed near enough to grasp. Tonic neck reflex is helping the baby to rotate the neck and look around in all directions. This reflex is mostly seen during the 2-3 months of age and disappears at around 4-5 months. This too helps developing the voluntary movements. Stepping and walking come a little later in process. Some babies find it difficult while some pick up steps very soon. Thus these and many more reflexes play a vital role in developing voluntary movements.
