Physical Growth and Development 4 to 6 1.I can describe how an average child’s height, weight, proportion, and posture change from four to six. 2.I can explain the changes to a child’s teeth that generally begin around age six. 3.I can compare average motor development for four, five and six year olds.

Height and Weight Increase in height averages 2 ½ to 3 inches a year. Boys are usually slightly taller then girls Average weight gain of 4 to 5 pounds a year Boys are usually slightly heavier then girls

Proportion and Posture Body straighter and slimmer Abdomen flattens Shoulders widen and more erect Chest broadens and flattens Neck becomes longer Legs lengthen, straighter and firmer Balance and coordination

Teeth Children begin to lose primary teeth around the age of six Replaced by a set of 32 primary teeth Six year molars, are the first to appear. Two upper and two lower. Molars act as a lock to keep all the other teeth in position Primary teeth are lost in the same order they appeared

Thumb Sucking Some will continue to suck their thumb as a way to comfort themselves or to handle tension. Best to ignore Trying to force a child to quit may cause more tension. In time they will quit on their own. Excessive thumb sucking contact a dentist. If the sucking is changing to position of the jaw or teeth then something needs to be done

Motor Skills Significant Improvement This age is energetic Improve dexterity – skilled use of hands and fingers Page 441

Hand Preference By age five they usually have a hand preference Ambidextrous – able to use both equally

Providing Care for children 4-6 I can explain why good nutrition is essential for children ages four to six. I can give examples of ways to encourage good nutrition in children of these ages. I can explain how to help children ages four to six develop good self-care habits.

Feeding Children need nutritious foods Children tend to do better with five or six small meals and snacks Child’s activity level will influence food intake

Poor Nutrition Not getting the key nutrients Lack of money Adults may have poor eating habits Children allowed to choose their own food Negative effects of poor nutrition – Less resist cold and illness – Growth may be limited – Learning may be difficult because they are tired and easily distracted

Weight Problems Look chunky or slim but still be healthy Let a doctor decide if over or under weight Children can be overweight not just because of the quantity of food but also the quality of food choices

What would you do When the family goes to eat at another family’s house, six year old Adam looks at the food on the table and announces which items he does not like. Four year old Wendy refuses to eat anything that is green. At the grocery store, both children beg you to buy Crispy Crunches, a cereal they have seen advertised but which is high in sugar.

Teaching children About Nutrition Home Nutrition learned at this stage can lead to a lifetime of better health Involve kids – garden, prep of food Children feel proud of their contributions Parent and child spend time together Improve motor skills School Help prepare snacks – ants on a log Talk about the texture of the food and the nutritional value Tips for snack lunch – page 448

Sleeping Continue nap until age four or they enter Kindergarten Cooperate with bed time, fewer delay tactics Still routine – bedtime stories

Toileting Should be potty trained and have few accidents So involved in an activity they forget to go to the bathroom and may have an accident Uncomfortable in a new place Sickness can cause accidents

Minimizing Accidents Use the restroom before leaving home When arriving at a new place show the child where the bathroom is Keep an extra outfit in case of an accident

Toileting and school Children may become constipated or wet their pants Most adjust to school in a few weeks Some children may have this problem for several years when starting school