Preschool Physical Development 3 & 4 year olds Gross Motor Skills Fine Motor Skills Self Help Skills

General Facts Growth slows down Posture is upright Average height –38 inches Average weight –32 pounds

Gross Motor- 3 years Use of the large muscles Arms Legs Back

Walking-sequential skill -Hold up head -Roll over -Sit up -Crawl -Stand holding on -Stand alone -Walk

Climbing Stairs - sequential Ascending 2 Feet / Stair Belly or butt slide down, feet first Descending2 Feet /Stair Alternate feet Ascending Alternate feet descending

Throwing a Ball Underhand – small ball goes straight up Overhand – small ball goes straight down Best to use a large soft ball

Two arms pull to chest Large ball or bean bag suggested Catching a Ball Two arms pull to chest Large ball or bean bag suggested

Kicking a ball Ball should be stationary Rolled ball goes under leg

Balance On beam-walk heel to toe or sideways Balance one foot-8 sec. Hopping-one foot-3 consecutive hops, then stop for balance Jumping-2 feet, can go forever

Pedaling Big Wheels are recommended

Fine Motor Skills Use of the small muscles Fingers, toes

Drawing- sequential skill From shoulder, fist grip From elbow, fist grip From wrist, finger grip From fingers, correct grip Simple shapes, Trace more complex shapes

Drawing a Face Features are positioned but not proportioned

Drawing a figure Body has three parts

Cutting –sequential skill Can cut paper in half Cannot cut on a line

Self Help Skills Toilet training Eating Dressing Bathing Grooming

Toilet Training Bowels First

Eating Spoons-fist grip used Fork-stabbing motion Knife-spread Cup- 2 hands Capable of clearing their place

Dressing Give choices, not total freedom Clothing backwards, inside-out, not matched, lopsided Fasteners-one piece zippers, large buttons and snaps, unbuckle Shoes on wrong feet Cannot tie, need velcro

Bathing Capable, but never leave alone

Grooming Able to brush teeth and comb hair, but need parental help