1. EARLY CHILDHOOD AGES 3-6 Chapter 6
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2. Physical Development Section 1
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3. Growth from Age 3 to 6: Body Growth
U.S. children grow about 2–3 inches a year and add 5–7 pounds
Boys slightly taller and heavier than girls
Primary teeth replace primary baby teeth
Tooth decay more common in children from developing countries
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4. Growth from Age 3 to 6: Brain Development
Size of brain increases gradually during early childhood
Age 3 brain is 70% of adult weight
Age 6 brain is 90% of adult weight
Frontal lobe growth is important during preschool years
Frontal Lobes
emotional regulation
foresight
planned behavior
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5. Growth from Age 3 to 6: Brain Development
Synaptic pruning continues in early childhood
Unused neurons and misconnected dendrites die.
1. Ex: gardener will cut out the weak/extra bushes so stronger ones can grow.
“use it or lose it”
When you learn something new/ improve on an ability your brain makes new neural connections and keeps connections strong
Let's Watch
Pruning is very important for brain power!!!

6. Growth from Age 3 to 6: Brain Development
Substantial myelination
Corpus callosum
Cerebellum
Reticular formation
Hippocampus
Increase in dendrite connection + myelination=
Increase in brain size
Figure 6.1 Four Brain Structures with High Myelination in Early Childhood In which structures is myelination completed
by age 5?
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7. Growth from Age 3 to 6: Health and Safety
Developing countries face malnutrition as a norm (80% of children)
Lack of protein experienced by 25% of children younger than age 5.
Can lead to marasmus and kwashiorkor= deadly
Infancy
Toddlerhood & Early Childhood
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8. Growth from Age 3 to 6: Health and Safety
Iron deficiency (anemia) is experienced by majority of children
Causes fatigue, irritability, and difficulty sustaining attention
US children have calcium deficiency needed for bone/teeth growth
Obesity is common in developed countries WHY?

9. Motor Development: Gross and Fine Motor Skills
Gross motor skills extend abilities that appeared earlier
Some gender differences
Boys become better at skills that focus on: strength or size like jumping, throwing a ball
Girls become better at body coordination like balancing on one foot.
Fine motor development allows refinement of skills
Drawing shapes, letters, name, using scissors, dressing, brushing teeth
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10. Let’s Watch

11. Motor Development: Handedness LO 6.5 Handedness
Preferences for handedness can be seen prenatally
ex: fetus either sucking the right or left thumb. Genetics
Adopted children resemble biological parents more than adoptive parents
Identical twins likely to differ b/c they lie in opposite ways in the uterus and use the other hand.
Culture
Historically left-handedness is considered evil Why? • •
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12. Fun Facts Pros of being left handed
More likely to show exceptional verbal & math abilities
Likely to have strong visual & spatial abilities
Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Picasso
Cons of being left handed Infants are more likely to be born prematurely or experience difficult birth Likely to have problems learning to read or verbal learning disabilities Lower life expectancy More likely to die of an accident • • • • • •
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