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"In the activity, 42 toy blocks, their container, and its lid-''detached objects'' according to J. J. Gibson's (1979/1986) term-were around the toddler, giving a variety of meanings to the toddler's actions. Longitudinal study of the setting found that there was a range of postures employed in the activity, and the change of postures across the periods reflected the meaning of the layout of surfaces surrounding the activity. Along with the change of postural variations, the emergence of novel action coordination was observed in which an invariant spatial relationship between the detached objects and the toddler was maintained in such a way to facilitate the act," wrote T. Nonaka and colleagues.

The researchers concluded: "The close relation found between the meaning of the environment and behavioral flexibility and nesting of actions in the activity supports the proposition that such properties of action are the symptoms of functional coupling to the ecological resources available in a situation.."

Nonaka and colleagues published their study in Ecological Psychology (When a Toddler Starts Handling Multiple Detached Objects: Descriptions of a Toddler's Niche Through Everyday Actions. Ecological Psychology, 2009;21(2):155-183).

For additional information, contact T. Nonaka, Ecole Hautes Etud Science Sociales, Group Rech Apprentissage & Contexte, 54 Bd Raspail, F-75006 Paris, France.

The publisher's contact information for the journal Ecological Psychology is: Lawrence Erlbaum Association Inc-Taylor & Francis, 325 Chestnut Street, Ste. 800, Philadelphia, PA 19106, USA.

Keywords: France, Paris, Life Sciences, Pediatrics, Psychology, Mental Health, Behavior, Ecology.

This article was prepared by Ecology, Environment & Conservation editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2009, Ecology, Environment & Conservation via VerticalNews.com.