SkillsUSA Early Childhood Education Practice Test

Early motor development follows a proximal-to-distal pattern: the body builds core stability first. The large muscles of the trunk provide the essential foundation for balance and posture, enabling the head and limbs to be controlled as the child grows. Once the trunk is stable, fine control in the arms and hands develops, which comes later. Facial expressions and neck control start early, but the trunk’s big muscles establish the base for all subsequent movement, making them the first to develop.