An understanding of the stages involved in children's development of sensory motor integration would aid in the creation of instructional strategies in physical education. These strategies would optimize both the child's physical coordination and creative development by increasing the correlation between the demands of a learning environment and the capacities of the child's nervous system. Aspects of the development of sensory motor integration are discussed as they apply to two areas of motor control: eye-hand coordination and balance control. Behavioral changes in each area that occur from the moment the child is born to the point at which the behavior matures are discussed, as are developmental changes within the nervous system which may underlie the changing behavioral patterns. Practical applications of these studies for sequencing the teaching of motor skills in young children are suggested. (JM)