Which of the following developmental concepts accounts for the finding that children develop the ability to control their arms before they develop the ability to control their legs?

The proximodistal principle refers to the development pattern where motor skills emerge from the center of the body outward toward the extremities. While this concept does describe another aspect of physical development, it does not specifically account for the head-to-body sequence of control, which is the focus of the question.

Schema theory pertains to cognitive development and how children create mental frameworks to understand the world around them. While it plays a significant role in learning and adaptation, it does not directly relate to the sequence of motor control development outlined in the question.

Synaptic pruning is a neurological process that occurs as the brain matures, where unnecessary neural connections are eliminated to improve efficiency. While it is important for cognitive development, it does not explain the physical sequence of motor skill acquisition in children.

Orthogenesis is a theory of development that suggests a linear progression toward a specific goal or end state. This concept lacks empirical support in the context of developmental psychology and does not explain the order of motor skill development in children.