Growth and Development for Preschoolers (Ages 3-6)

Jun 5, 2024

Growth and Development: Preschoolers (Ages 3-6)

Physical Growth and Development

  • Weight Gain: 4 to 6 pounds per year
  • Height Growth: Approximately 3 inches per year
  • Growth Pattern: Slows down compared to infancy

Gross Motor Skills

  • Age 3: Ride a tricycle, balance on one foot, jump off a bottom step
  • Age 4: Hop on one foot, catch a ball, skip
  • Age 5: Jump rope, skate

Fine Motor Skills

  • Age 3: Draw a circle, draw a face (circle with facial features)
  • Age 4: Use scissors, add three parts to a stick figure, draw a square
  • Age 5: Tie shoelaces, draw a diamond and triangle, add seven to nine parts to a stick figure

Cognitive and Psychosocial Development

  • Cognitive Stage: Pre-operational phase
  • Language: Telegraphic speech (two-to-four-word sentences)
    • Development of larger sentences by age 6
    • Ask many questions, especially 'why' questions

Concepts

  • Animism: Attributing human characteristics to inanimate objects
  • Magical Thinking: Belief that thoughts can influence events
    • Can affect perception of illness and death
  • Egocentrism: Focus on self
  • Incomplete Concept of Time: Understand events rather than specific times

Psychosocial Development

  • Stage: Initiative vs. Guilt
  • Play: Associative play and dramatic play (play-pretend, dress-up)
  • Preferred Toys: Dress-up toys, simple games, puzzles, dolls, puppets

Parental Guidance

  • Nutrition: Focus on quality rather than quantity
    • Food portions approximately half of an adult's portions
    • 5-2-1-0 Framework:
      • ">= 5 servings of fruits/vegetables"
      • "<= 2 hours of screen time"
      • ">= 1 hour of physical activity"
      • "0 or limited sugar-sweetened beverages"
  • Sleep: 12 hours per night, consistent bedtime routine

Vaccinations (Ages 4-6)

  • Annual Vaccine: Influenza
  • Additional Vaccines:
    • Varicella (chickenpox)
    • DTaP (Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis)
    • IPV (Polio)
    • MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella)
    • "Very DIM" mnemonic for Varicella, DTaP, IPV, MMR

Review Questions

  1. What shape should a four-year-old be able to draw?
  2. At what age should a child be able to ride a tricycle?
  3. What is it called when a child attributes feelings to a teddy bear, and is this normal?
  4. Do preschoolers engage in cooperative or associative play?
  5. What vaccines should a four-year-old receive?