konttauksia

Konttaus (plural konttauksia) refers to a form of locomotion in which a person moves by supporting themselves on hands and knees or on the belly, close to the ground. In Finnish, the verb kontata means to crawl, and konttaus is the corresponding noun of the action. The term is used broadly to describe crawling movements in humans and, less commonly, in animals.

Linguistically, konttaus derives from the Finnish verb kontata. The concept is primarily discussed in the context of development and movement, and it appears in pediatric, physiotherapy, and early childhood education literature. The plural konttauksia is used when describing several instances or types of crawling.

In child development, konttaus is a key motor milestone. Most infants begin crawling in the first year of life, typically between around six and twelve months, providing a means to explore the environment and build strength, coordination, and spatial awareness. Some children may crawl in different styles or skip crawling altogether and move directly to pulling up and walking. Delays or atypical crawling patterns can be monitored by caregivers and health professionals as part of developmental assessments.

Outside basic development, konttaus can appear in discussions of physical therapy, animal movement studies, and descriptions of specific exercises or movements performed on all fours. The term emphasizes the locomotion style rather than a specific technique, allowing for varied forms of crawling under different conditions or goals.

See also: crawling, infant development, motor milestones, movement therapy.