The Development of Motor Skills, Executive Functions, and a Relationship to ADHD: A Preliminary Review

Abstract

The basal ganglia and certain regions of the cerebellum are reasonably mature at birth [236]. All infant, toddler, or childhood movement is purposive [237]. It represents goal-directed action that foresees or predicts events in the child’s world. This viewpoint emphasizes anticipation and action control, which is at the base of executive functioning. Early motor development predicts later development and performance on complex cognitive tasks of working memory and related functions [238].