Thelen's Model of Motor Development

Thelen’s Model of Motor Development suggests that a child's movement progress results from the dynamic interaction between their changing physical abilities, environmental factors, and experience. Rather than following a strict sequence of milestones, development emerges from the continuous adaptation and exploration of new skills. As children grow, they experiment with their bodies, and successful movements are reinforced, allowing skills to stabilize. This model emphasizes flexibility, highlighting that development is a complex, self-organizing process shaped by multiple influences over time, rather than a fixed set of stages.