Physical Development of the Preschooler Chapter 15

Preschool Kids Age 3-5 They can handle harder tasks They do not have as much control over their bodies as they would like During this time, they improve skills of walking, running, balancing, and self-dressing

Body Growth and Development Grow more slowly than toddlers Instead of growing much larger, their body proportions change and organ systems mature

Height and Weight Grow 2.5 to 3 inches per year On average, girls are shorter than boys, but only by about ½ inch or less Weight gain also slows Gain 3 to 5 pounds per year 75% of weight gain is due to muscle development Boys have greater muscle development and tend to weigh on average 1 pound more than girls

Other body changes Preschooler proportions begin to look more like an adult’s Lower face grows more rapidly than the head  therefore their face looks more like an adult’s By age 5, the waist is smaller than the shoulders and hips The trunk grows to allow more space for internal organs (as the trunk grows, the abdomen protrudes less) Legs grow rapidly  by age 5 ½, legs are ½ the length of the body (this is the same as an adult’s leg to body ratio)

Bones and teeth Bones continue to ossify and grow larger and longer Baby teeth fall out between ages of 4 and 5 years old

Organs Heart rate slows and becomes steady Blood pressure increases Breathing slows and is deeper Digestive tract lags behind the maturity of other organs –Irritated by high fiber and spices Brain continues to grow but growth rate slows

Fat and Muscle Tissue Ratio of fat to muscle tissue continues to decrease slowly Boys lose baby fat more quickly than girls Most baby fat disappears by the first day of kindergarten By age 5 ½, fat deposits are less than half as thick as they were at age 1

Muscle Muscle fiber, which was mostly water, is being replaced by protein Activity level affects muscle development 3 year old muscles develop rapidly because they are more active at this age than any other age in the lifespan