When a child starts formal schooling, it is assumed that he or she will be able to sit still, pay attention, manipulate a writing instrument and control the eye movements necessary to follow a line of print. But these abilities depend upon the maturity of the motor system the system of nerves in the brain and spinal cord which sends impulses to the muscles causing movement.
Attention, balance and co-ordination are the primary ABC on which all later learning depends. Perhaps as literacy and numeracy levels are given more and more emphasis and children enter school at an earlier age, we are in danger of forgetting this.
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