Study On Children's Development Of Visual-motor Integration Based On School Readiness Of Handwriting

As a very complex sensorimotor skill,handwriting contains the process of continuous interaction between primary sensorimotor and advanced cognitive processing,which includs visual-motor integration(VMI),motion plan and cognition.While VMI ability is the key factor to predict it.This paper focuses on the development of children's VMI abilities and the predictors of VMI abilities.Firstly in the study,255 children participate in the Test of Visual-Motor Integration.The results reveal that children's VMI abilities develop quickly during 4 to 5.5 years old,and then become slowing down from 5.5 to 6.5 years old,keep stable from 6.5 to 7.5 years old and finally rapidly develop again after 7.5 years old.Furthermore there are significant differences between different ages and genders.Besides,Chinese children show higher VMI abilities than American children.Then it tests visual perception skills,motor coordination abilities and executive function of 151 children between 4-6 years old to explore the predictors to VMI abilities.It indicates that motor coordination ability and cognitive flexibility are two main predictors.Except motor coordination,visual perception skill and inhibitory control ability also contribute to VMI ability in the beginning of 4 and 5 years old.Finally some suggestions about school readiness of handwriting are given.