Perpetual-motor development is the specific process by which one develops the nerve pathways that take in information through the senses, organizes and interprets this information, and then responds to it. All information coming into a person’s awareness is taken in through an elaborate system of nerve pathways in his/her brain, which processes it. This system develops through a child’s growing years. Through touching and moving (motor skills), an infant or growing child adds meaning to his senses of seeing and hearing (perceptual). As these develop together, they form the complete network of information-processing pathways, which can be likened to a system of freeways.
On this “freeway” neurons are supposed to relay information. Sometimes bridges, or synapses, are out. Or if, for some reason, a child misses a step in his/her perceptual-motor development, the pathways will develop incorrectly. Information will be processed poorly at the missing bridge.
Without proper bridge development, information comes in slowly, partially, or not at all. Distraction, forgetfulness, or loss of interest occurs as the information gets bounced around, or rerouted.
Perceptual motor training is an effective way to build bridges, which were not built during a child’s perceptual-motor development. This training enables him/her to better cope with information from the printed page, process auditory information, and deal with the dynamics of a classroom.
When bridges are out, academic skills such as reading, writing, and following directions will be affected. Reading requires very complex coordination abilities. Auditory processing requires good sensory integration. A student/child must have good perceptual-motor development to develop these skills and develop to his or her full potential.
Read more on The Science Behind Perceptual Motor Training.