The Preschooler ages 3 through 5 years

1
The Preschoolerages 3 through 5 years
2
General characteristics

• Much calmer period in the childs development
  growth is steady but slow
• The 3-year-old may still have the prominent
  potbelly of toddlerhood but will slim down over
  the next few years.
• During preschool years, both boys girls slim
  down as trunks of their bodies lengthen.
• Although their heads are still somewhat large for
  their bodies, by end of preschool years most
  children have lost their top-heavy look

3
Biological development

• The average child gains about 2.3 kg per year and
  grows 6.75 7.5 cm/ year
• The average weight is 14.6 kg at 3 years, 16.7 kg
  at 4 years and 18.7 kg at 5 years
• The average height is 95 cm at 3 years, 103cm at
  4 years and 110cm at 5 years
• Motor development consists of increases in
  strength and refinement of previously learned
  skills

4
Gross motor development

• Walking, running, climbing and jumping are well
  established by 36 months
• By age of 3 the preschooler rides a tricycle,
  walks on tiptoe, balances on one foot for a few
  seconds and broad jumps
• By age of 4 skips and hops proficiently on one
  foot and catch a ball reliably
• By age of 5 the child skips on alternate feet,
  jumps rope.

5
Fine motor development

• Drawing shows several advancements in the
  perception of shape and the development of fine
  muscle coordination
• The 3-year-old child copies a circle and imitate
  a cross and vertical and horizontal lines.

6
Fine motor development

• The 3-year-old is not able to draw a complete
  human figure but draws a round circle, later adds
  facial features, and by age 5 or 6 years can draw
  several parts (head, arms, legs, body facial
  features

7
The Brain

• Brain head grow more rapidly than other part of
  body at a rate in early childhood less rapid than
  during infancy
• By time children have reached 3 years of age
  brain is ¾s of its adult size
• By age 5 it has reached 9/10s of its adult size
• Mylineation process where nerve cells are covered
  insulated with layer of fat cells having effect
  of increasing speed of information traveling
  through nervous system

8
Visual Perception

• Only toward end of early childhood are most
  childrens eye muscles adequately developed to
  allow them to move their eyes efficiently across
  a series of letters
• Due to young childrens lack of motor
  coordination, they may trip or produce poor
  artwork
• Functional Amblyopia know as lazy eye resulting
  when one eye is used less than other- sometimes
  requires surgery

9
(No Transcript)
10
Psychosocial development

• Developing a sense of initiative
• Initiative means a positive response to the
  world's challenges, taking on responsibilities,
  learning new skills, feeling purposeful.
• Parents can encourage initiative by encouraging
  children to try out their ideas. We should accept
  and encourage fantasy and curiosity and
  imagination. This is a time for play, not for
  formal education.

11
Psychosocial development

• Stage of energetic learning
• The capacity for moral judgment has arrived. A
  parent has the responsibility, socially, to
  encourage the child to "grow up -- you're not a
  baby anymore!" But if this process is done too
  harshly and too abruptly, the child learns to
  feel guilty about his or her feelings (over
  restriction and fear of wrongdoing)

12
Cognitive development

• Preoperational Stage Ages 2 7
• Preconceptual phase ages 2 4
• Intuitive phase ages 4 7
• Now that child has mental representations, begins
  to utilize symbols
• Egocentrism thinks everyone experiences the
  world exactly as they do (Single view point)
• Animistic Inanimate objects have lifelike
  qualities just like themselves
• E.g., sun is angry at clouds and chased them away

13
Moral Development

• Preconventional level
• Punishment obedience orientation 2 4
• Naïve instrumental orientation (Naïve hedonism)
  4 7 actions are directed toward satisfying
  their needs. Instrument of reciprocity you do
  something for me and Ill do something for you

14
Language Development

• 4 Years
• Knows names of familiar animals
• Names common objects in picture books or
  magazines
• Knows one or more colors
• They talk constantly regardless of whether anyone
  is listening to or answering them
• 5 Years
• Can count to ten
• Speech should be completely intelligible, in
  spite of articulation problems (stuttering)
• Speech on the whole should be grammatically
  correct

15
Play

• At 4 years associative play group play in
  similar or identical activities but without rigid
  organization or rules
• Imitative, imaginative and dramatic play
  dress-up clothes, dolls, housekeeping toys,
  dollhouses, telephones, trains, trucks, planes
• Imaginary playmates are so much a part of this
  age period
• At 5 years cooperative play more realistic
  activities, where the preschooler can obey rules
  and regulations

16
Solitary PlayA child is in a room full of other children, but he/she is playing alone and not paying attention to anyone. Parallel PlayChildren are playing the same game or activity. They are playing next to each other, but they are not talking or doing the same activity.                         
Associative PlayChildren are playing the same game, but they are not working together or connecting with one another. Cooperative PlayChildren are working together to play a game.
17
Sleep and Sleep Problems

• Average preschooler sleeps approximately 12 hours
  a night
• Somnambulism (sleepwalking) during deepest stage
  of sleep common in about 15 of children and is
  related to social rather developmental factors

18

• Nightmares frightening dreams that awaken sleeper
  more often toward morning than just after child
  has gone to bed
• Night Terrors sudden arousal from sleep intense
  fear accompanied by number of physiological
  reactions rapid heart rate breathing, loud
  screams, heavy perspiration physical movement

19
Sleep and Sleep Problems

• Recommendation
• a consistent bedtime ritual that signal readiness
  for bed
• Keeping a light on in the room
• Providing transitional objects such as a favorite
  toy usually soft cuddly
• Helping children to slow down before bedtime

20
(No Transcript)
21
Nutrition

• Nutritional requirements for preschoolers are
  fairly similar to those of toddlers
• The requirements for calories 90 kcal/kg,
  average daily intake of 1800 calories
• Fluid requirements 100 ml/kg daily
• Protein requirements are 1.2 g/kg daily

22
Nutrition

• Daily Eating Routines
• 3-year-old - fairly good appetite but prefers
  small portions, will feed self independently
• 4-year-old - fluctuating appetite dislikes
  certain foods, likes to help in preparation of
  meal
• 5-year-old - eats well, but not every meal likes
  familiar foods likes make own breakfast.

23
IMPORTANT NUTRIENTS FOR PRESCHOOLERS 
Nutrient Function Food Sources
Calcium Healthy bones and teeth Milk, cheese, yogurt, milk in puddings and soups, calcium fortified beverages
Iron Healthy red blood cells, prevents anemia. Meat, fish, poultry, eggs, cooked beans and lentils, peanut butter, nuts, seeds, fortified breakfast cereals, dried fruit
Vitamin A Healthy skin, eyes and nails, protects against infection. Sweet potatoes, carrots, spinach, kale, dark orange squash, cantaloupe, sweet red peppers, apricots, broccoli
Vitamin C Healthy muscles and bone, increases iron absorption. Oranges, kiwi fruit, 100 fruit juice (apple, orange), grapefruit, strawberries, sweet green and red peppers, broccoli, tomatoes, Brussels sprouts
24
IMPORTANT NUTRIENTS FOR PRESCHOOLERS 
Nutrient Function Food Sources
Vitamin D Healthy bones and teeth Fish liver oils, fish (salmon, mackerel, sardines, tuna), fortified milk and margarine. Moderate exposure to sunlight also helps the body produce vitamin D .
Vitamin B12 Healthy red blood cells Found only in animal products such as meat, fish, poultry, eggs, and milk products. Foods fortified with vitamin B12 such as soy and rice beverages, and soy-based meat substitutes.
Zinc Healthy growth Red meats, some seafood (oysters), and whole grains.
Fiber Healthy digestion, prevents constipation Breads and cereals made with whole wheat, wheat bran, oats, rye flour, vegetables and fruit, cooked beans and lentils.
25
Fears

• Occurs because their imagination is so active.
• Fear of dark.
• Fear of mutilation (simple injury, painful
  procedures).
• Fear of separation.

26
Common Health Problems

• 1. Infectious disorders
• Communicable diseases Chicken Pox, Diphtheria,
  Measles, Pertussis, etc.
• Conjunctivitis.
• Stomatitis.
• 2. Ingestion of injurious agents
• Cosmetics and personal care products, cleaning
  products, plants, foreign bodies, gasoline.
• Heavy metal poisoning (mercury, iron, lead)
• 3. Enuresis
• 4. Tonsillitis