National Certified Addiction Counselor, Level 2 (NCAC II) Practice Exam Exam

What characterizes the Proximodistal Principle of development?

1. Development starts with walking before crawling

2. Muscle control develops from the center of the body outward

3. Control of facial movements precedes arm movements

4. Child responses to stimuli are prioritized

The correct answer is: Muscle control develops from the center of the body outward

The Proximodistal Principle of development is characterized by the pattern in which motor skills emerge in a specific order, starting from the center of the body and moving outward towards the extremities. This principle highlights how control of muscle movements develops first in the trunk and then progresses to the limbs. For example, infants typically gain control over their torso and can sit up or roll over before they develop finer motor skills that involve their arms and hands, such as reaching for or grasping objects. This principle underscores a foundational understanding of physical and motor development in children, emphasizing that skills involving larger muscle groups are acquired before those requiring precise and coordinated movements of smaller muscles. Thus, the correct answer aptly describes this fundamental concept in developmental psychology and physical development.