1. Physical Development of the Preschooler
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2. Chapter Goals
1. Describe the physical development that occurs in preschool children.
2. Describe preschool children’s gross-motor and fine motor skills

3. Height and Weight
Preschool children grow steadily at about 2 ½ inches to 3 inches each year.
Rate of weight gain slows during the preschool years
Preschoolers gain about three to five pounds per year.
75 % of the weight gained during the preschool years is due to muscle development.

4. Other Body Changes
Body proportions begin to look more like those of an adult.
Lower face grows more rapidly than the head.
Until 30 months, the waist hips, and chest measure almost the same.
At five, the waist is smaller than the shoulders and hips.
The trunk allows more space for internal organs.
As the trunk grows, the abdomen protrudes less.
At 5 ½ years, most children’s legs are about half the length of the body.

5. Bones and Teeth Bones continue to ossify and grow larger and longer.
Deciduous teeth begin to fall out between ages 4 & 5.
Bone and teeth development can be harmed by malnutrition and other health problems during the preschool years.
Bones, muscles, and joints are more prone to injury in preschool children than in older children.

6. Organs The heart rate slows and becomes steady.
Blood pressure increases.
Breathing slows and is deeper.
The digestive tract lags behind the maturity of other organs.
The tract is more irritated by high-fiber foods and seasonings than the adult’s.
The preschooler’s brain continues to grow, too, but at a slower rate than before.

7. Fat and Muscle Tissues
Ratio of fat to muscle tissue continues to decrease slowly.
With good nutrition and physical activity, most of the baby fat will have disappeared by the first day of kindergarten.
At 5 ½ years, the preschooler’s fat deposits are less than half as thick as they were at age one year.
The skeletal muscles and bones that are made stronger by ossification.
Muscle fiber is now being replaced by more protein.
Preschoolers’ activity level also affects muscle development.

8. Gross Motor Development
Balance is developing. This requires signals from the eyes and the movement of fluids in the semicircular canals of the inner ears.
Signals are sent to the brain and then transmitted to the muscles of the body.
Based on the signals, the muscles make constant adjustments to maintain balance.

9. Gross Motor Development
Children differ widely in their balancing skills.
Through regular activities preschool children develop two kinds of balance:
A) Dynamic Balance: balance while moving—developed when preschoolers walk a line or balance beam.
B) Static Balance: balance while remaining still. This is learned when preschoolers stand on one foot with arms outstretched or folded across their chests.
Dynamic Balance is easier to develop.

10. Gross Motor Development
Through muscle development and balancing skills, preschool children become stronger and more coordinated.
All gross-motor skills improve. Refer to Page 380. Provide examples of how preschoolers improve in their gross-motor skills.

11. Fine Motor Development
As preschoolers play with small objects, their small muscles develop and fine-motor skills improve.
Age 3: Feeding with a spoon and fork (still messy), build towers from blocks (towers are crooked), draw straight lines and copy circles, unbutton buttons, and pull large zippers.
Age 4: Use knives when feeding, straight towers, cut along lines with scissors, comb their hair, wash their hands, can begin to lace.
Age 5: Right or left hand preference is definite for most, build towers with other small toys with skill, simple drawings free-hand, fasten large buttons, work large zippers, some can tie up shoelaces.

12. Complete: Page 384-385 Reviewing Key Concepts: 1-10
Thinking Further: 1-3
In Class Assignment: Write a two page brochure about the motor skills of preschool children. Illustrations should be included. Make sure it includes at least 4 components of motor development.

13. Pre-Reading Activities for Chapter 16
Provide examples of people using logical thinking skills.
Ex: If you have a term paper due next week, what sequence of work must take place in order to finish it on time? If you don’t finish it what happens?
2. How might young children react to a series of events that must be placed in sequence?
2. Reflection: What kind of pretend play did you engage in as a child? Describe the pretend play and why you believe you were so invested in that particular type.

14. Picture with caption layout
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16. Three pictures with caption
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18. Section header layout
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