The Effect of (Perceptual-Motor and Music) Enrichment of Environment on Age Equivalents of Gross and Fine Motor Movements in 5-8-Month-Old Infants

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of perceptual-motor and music enrichment of environment on the development of fine and gross motor movements in infants. 32 healthy infants (5 to 8 months old) participated in this study and were divided homogenously into four groups (each group 8 subjects): three experimental groups and one control group. Experimental groups had 36 training sessions, 60 minutes per session in their specific enriched environments. Infants in group A were assigned to a perceptual-motor and music enriched environment, infants in group B to a perceptual-motor enriched environment and infants in group C to a music enriched environment. Peabody motor development scale (second edition) was used to evaluate fine and gross motor skills. Data were analyzed using the variables of age equivalent of this scale. The obtained data were analyzed by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Results showed a significant difference in mean age equivalent scores in gross motor movements (P=0.001) and in fine motor movements (P=0.001) between experimental and control groups. These findings showed that perceptual-motor and music experience had a positive effect on motor development generally and on age equivalents of fine and grossmotor movements specifically. In other words, environmental condition and experience were positive factors in fundamental and basic motor skill development in infants who participated in the three experimental groups.