Understanding 4 and 5 Year Olds Physical/Cognitive Dev. Child Guidance

Chapter 7 – Understanding 4 and 5 Year Olds In this chapter, you will learn about physical development of four and five year olds cognitive development of preschoolers social-emotional development of preschoolers teaching four-and five-year-olds

Learning Objective  We will analyze the physical and cognitive development of four and five year olds.  Each student will then research physical and cognitive activities and the benefits from the preschool activities on the computer in groups.  Then each student will share his or her findings with the class.  One or Two students will do their activity with the whole class!

Introduction – Open Discussion Are preschoolers capable of developing golf, tennis, soccer, ballet skills?

Introduction – Open Discussion -How early should formal training begin in specific sports and other activities? -If you were a parent, would you encourage or discourage your preschooler playing sports?

Four and Five Year Olds  Playing Soccer! 

Physical Development of 4 and 5 Year Olds Preschool children are growing in more than just size. Gross-motor development Fine-motor development Self-help skills

Gross-Motor Development

 A motor skill is simply an action that involves your baby/child using his or her muscles.  Gross motor skills are larger movements your baby/child makes with his or her arms, legs, feet, or his entire body. So crawling, running, and jumping are gross motor skills.

Gross–Motor Development Four- and five-year-olds can hop on one foot walk down stairs with alternating feet balance on one foot for about 10 seconds walk backward ride a bike with training wheels climb fences and march to music throw and catch

Fine–Motor Development

Fine-Motor Development  Fine motor skills are those skills that require the small muscles of the hand to work together to perform precise and refined movements.

Fine-Motor Development Children find it easier to build straight and tall towers draw more refined forms recognize letters print a few letters control writing tools stay within the lines when they color understand that letters and sounds are linked

Self-Help Skills Preschoolers become more and more self- sufficient: Dress and undress with very little help Use spoons and forks with ease Take care of their own hygiene

Cognitive Development  Discuss…  What is Cognitive Development?  Why is it important that we understand the Cognitive Development of Preschoolers?

Cognitive Development Cognitive Development: Is the construction of the thought processes, including remembering, problem solving, and decision-making, from childhood through adolescence to adulthood.

Cognitive Development of 4 and 5 Year Olds Children in this group make many gains in understanding the world around them through language comprehension skills expressive language skills math skills

Language Comprehension Skills The language comprehension skills of four- and five-year-olds are constantly growing. They  Increase their understanding of space concepts: Beside, backward, forward  Become better at following three-step commands. “Pick up the Puzzle, put it on the table, and wash your hands.”  Have better understanding of the difference between plural and singular nouns.

Language Comprehension Skills  Start understanding the passive voice. “The orange was eaten by Brock.” Three year olds literally think an orange ate Brock.  Become confused about some statements. “I’m dying of hunger.” This may frighten the children.

Expressive Language Skills Preschoolers become quite talkative. Articulation: the ability to speak in clearly pronounced sounds; improves at ages four and five. Stuttering: repeating sound and pausing for unusually long times. Vocabulary: four-year-olds have about 1500 words, and five-year- olds have about 2000 words. Grammar: children start to learn that there are exceptions to rules.

Math Skills Number concepts become easier for children in this age group. Rote counting: reciting numbers in their proper order True counting: when an object is counted for each number named Money concepts: identify penny, nickel, and dime Time concepts: understand the difference between today, tomorrow, and yesterday

Cognitive Development of 4 and 5 Year Olds  Games for Cognitive Development 

Guided Practice – Research Activities  Students will get into their Groups. Group 1 – Physical (Gross Motor Skills)  Each student in the group will find a Gross Motor Skill activity (all students must have a different activity) and list 2 benefits of the activity for the preschooler. Group 2 – Physical (Fine Motor Skills)  Each student will find a Fine Motor Skill activity and list the benefits of the activity for the preschooler. Group 3 – Cognitive (Language Comprehension)  Each student will find a Language Comprehension activity and list the benefits of the activity for the preschooler. Group 4 – Cognitive (Expressive Language)  Each student will find an Expressive Language activity and list the benefits of the activity for the preschooler. Group 5 – Cognitive (Math Skills)  Each student will find a Math Skills activity and list the benefits of the activity for the preschooler.

2A Groups  Group 1: Bri, Michelle, Yoseline, Mayra M.  Group 2: Ashlee, Sofia, Mara  Group 3: Gloria, Nesha, Amber, Mayra R.  Group 4: Mariah, Melani, Adrianna  Group 5: Kenya, Fernanda, Tyler, Destiny

3A Groups  Group 1: Rae, Amber R., Paola, Delaney  Group 2: Marissa, Megan, Caitlyn, Katelynn  Group 3: Sara, Naomi, Rosalinda, Bri  Group 4: Maliha, Amber S., Jicel Flores, Brynlie  Group 5: Jazz, Kaitlynn, Gissele F., Yoseline

Guided Practice  I will call on a few students in the groups to explain their activity and say what the benefits are.  Have one or two student do their activity with the whole class – make sure it works in the classroom! If a student coordinates the activity, then they will get candy! (Everyone can participate if it doesn’t need many materials.)

Conclusion The growth of four and five year olds helps them become more independent. Stronger and more coordinated. Increase their gross and fine motor skills. Improve dressing, eating, and hygiene skills Four and five year olds thoughts become more adult-like. Begin to understand and use symbols Improve language skills Understand and use more words Start to improve grammar