Research shows that early motor experiences can aid social development

Health insurance customers may be heeding the advice of the Kennedy Krieger Institute and encouraging early motor experiences for their children, as research shows that it can help shape infants' preferences for objects and aid social development.

The study shows that providing infants with 'sticky mittens' to play with toys increases their interest in faces which supports suggestions that self-produced motor experiences can contribute to infants' understanding of the social world around them.

It also suggests that children at risk of abnormal social development (ASD) would benefit greatly from motor training as early as three months of age.

Dr Klaus Libertus said that any games or interactions that encourage independent motor skills are important for a children's development.

"For parents, this [research] means that early motor development is very important and they should encourage motor experiences and active exploration by their child," he added.

The Kennedy Krieger Institute is an organisation which is dedicated to helping children and adolescents with disorders of the brain.