Physical Development from Four to Six

1. Physical Developmentfrom Four to Six Chapter 14

2. Chapter 14 Objectives • Describe normal physical growth for four to six year olds. • Compare motor skill development of four, five, and six year olds. • Identify ways to encourage good nutrition and healthy eating habits. • Explain how to help children develop good self-care habits. • Describe ways to prevent and handle toileting accidents among children ages four to six.

3. Physical Growth and Development

4. Height and Weight • The rate of physical growth is slightly slower than it was during ages of 1-3. • Average yearly increase in height: 2 ½ - 3 inches • Average yearly increase in weight: 4-5 pounds • Boys are often slightly taller and heavier than girls at this age.

5. Average Heights and Weightsfor 4-6 Year Olds

6. Proportion and Posture • Between a child’s 4th and 7th birthdays, the body becomes straighter and slimmer. • The protruding “baby belly” flattens. • The shoulders widen, the chest broadens and flattens, the neck becomes longer, and the legs grow rapidly – the legs also grow straighter and firmer. • Balance and coordination improve during these years.

7. Teeth • Around the age of 6, children begin to lose their primary teeth. • The primary teeth are replaced by permanent teeth, the set of 32 teeth that will not be naturally replaced. • The 6 year old molars, or “first molars” are the first permanent teeth to appear. • There are four of them – two upper and two lower.

8. Teeth • These molars are positioned in the back of the primary teeth. • Because they appear first, they act as a lock to keep all the teeth in position. • These molars help to prevent the later permanent teeth from being pushed farther back into the jaw. • In general, teeth are lost in the same order as they came in (two lower front teeth, two upper front teeth, etc.).

9. Thumb Sucking • Some four, five, and six year olds may continue this habit, usually to comfort themselves or handle tension. • Adults may worry about this but it is usually best to ignore it. • Trying to force a child to quit can cause more problems than the habit itself. Usually, children stop on their own. • If thumb sucking seems excessive, check with a dentist.

10. Motor Skills • During this period, most basic large and small motor skills improve significantly.

11. Motor Skills

12. Motor Skills • Four, five, and six year olds are very energetic. • Their favorite activities are usually physical – running, jumping, climbing, and turning somersaults. • By the age of 6, their movements are smoothly coordinated. • 4 and 5 year olds show improved dexterity. • What is dexterity?

13. Motor Skills • Children need plenty of opportunities for skill development. • Giving them time and space to run, jump, and climb helps them develop their large motor skills. • Providing activities such as coloring, painting, drawing, tracing, cutting, and writing helps them build small motor skills. • Children with well-developed motor skills will find it easier to learn how to read and write.

14. Hand Preference • By about age 5, most children consistently use either their right or left hand for most activities. • The hand used most often becomes the most skillful. • Only a few people are ambidextrous, or able to use both hands with equal skill. • Although handedness becomes apparent around age 5, preference for one hand usually begins early in life. • Researchers still don’t know how hand preference develops.

15. Providing Care for Childrenfrom 4-6

16. Feeding • The energy children need depends on a steady supply of nutritious foods. • Serving sizes should be smaller for children. • The amount of food a child needs depends on factors like height, weight, temperature, and level of activity. • Research has shown that children do better with 5-6 meals a day. This is because their stomach is still small and eating more frequently provides a more constant level of energy.

17. Poor Nutrition • There are many reasons for poor nutrition: • Some caregivers don’t understand the need for good nutrition or how to provide it • Some caregivers have poor eating habits themselves and set a bad example • Lack of money to buy healthy food • Allowing children to choose their own food

18. Poor Nutrition • Negative Effects of Poor Nutrition: • Less resistance to colds and other illnesses • Growth may be limited • Learning may be more difficult because they are tired and easily distracted

19. Weight Problems • During this age, children may look too slim or chunky and still be healthy. • Check with a doctor before deciding that a child is overweight or underweight. • What works for adults may not be appropriate for children. • Example: A low calorie diet is not a good suggestion for an overweight child because it may not supply the nutrients and energy a child needs.

20. Weight Problems • Consistently consuming more calories than the body uses causes the extra calories to be stored as fat – this leads to weight gain. • Not eating enough food to supply your energy needs leads to being underweight. • These things happen as a result from long term eating habits that do not match the child’s needs. • The QUALITY of food is more important than the quantity.

21. Nutrition at Home • Parents can take advantage of children’s curiosity at this age. • Ways to encourage learning: • Caring for a garden • Helping to prepare foods (salad, cake, etc.) • Advantages of learning: • Child feels proud of contributions • Positive time working together for child and parent • Helps improve small motor skills

22. Tips for Packed Lunches • Let them choose their own lunch box. • Don’t get in a rut – send different foods every day. • Make foods easy to eat – pita bread and tortilla wraps are good options. • Think finger foods – chunks, strips, cubes, and shapes. • It doesn’t have to be a sandwich – yogurt, hearty soups, salad, or casserole favorites. • What about sweets? Fruit, raisins, fig bars, and graham crackers are good choices. • Add a surprise! Special treat, note, fun napkin, etc.

23. Teaching Self-Care Skills • As 4-6 year olds’ physical skills improve, they are increasingly able to care for themselves. • They can keep themselves clean, dress themselves, and begin to care for their clothes.

24. Washing and Bathing • Children may be less interested in bathing at this age – they may look at it as a chore instead of something fun. • Praise for a job well done works better than nagging and scolding. • Setting up and maintaining hygiene routines helps children accept these tasks.

25. Brushing Teeth • Regular tooth brushing is another essential routine – caregivers should make sure children know how to properly brush and floss their teeth. • Tooth decay is a big concern at this age since permanent teeth are coming in.

26. Brushing Teeth • The dentist may recommend using sealants, thin plastic coatings that prevent plaque from developing. • Toothpaste with fluoride, a chemical that strengthens the outer coating of teeth, also helps. • These two steps can prevent about 90% of cavities from developing.

27. Dressing and Choosing Clothes • Children at this age are usually able to dress themselves. • They may have difficulty figuring out which clothes match – this can usually be ignored or you can gently suggest options that coordinate. • Comfort, durability, and economy should be the main guidelines for selecting clothes

28. Dressing and Choosing Clothes • There are 2 factors that are important when selecting clothing: • Children have definite likes and dislikes – some may become attached to a favorite garment. • Group identification becomes important – children may have a desire to wear popular clothes. • Group identification: feeling of belonging

29. Caring for Clothes • Once children start to care about what they wear, they can learn basic clothing care. • They can fold and hang up clothes and put dirty clothes in the appropriate place. • Putting clothes away is simpler if the child has storage within reach. This encourages children to take care of their clothes.

30. Caring for Clothes • Developing these habits will probably take a long time and require consistent reminders. • This is the stage of development when children need to increase their independence and sense of responsibilities. • If parents continue to clean up after their children at this age, these poor habits may last through the teenage years.

31. Sleeping • Children this age are generally more cooperative about going to bed. • Some children may use delaying tactics. • Some children may need conversation, companionship, or a stuffed toy to go to sleep. • Bedtime stories offer time for closeness and help develop an interest in books and reading.

32. Toileting • By the 4th birthday, most children have few toileting accidents. • Reasons accidents may occur: • The child is engaged in another activity and forgets to go to the bathroom. • Sometimes children feel uncomfortable in a new place and might not want to ask where the bathroom is. • Sickness, even a cold, could also lead to accidents. • If there is a persistent problem, you should check with a doctor.

33. Toileting • Steps to minimize accidents: • Make sure the child goes to the bathroom before leaving home. • When arriving to a new place, help the child find the bathroom. • Keep an extra outfit available just incase the child does have an accident.

34. Toileting • When children begin school, some children may suffer from constipation or sometimes wet their pants. • These problems can be caused by the tension from the new surroundings. • Children adjust differently – most children adjust after a few weeks but some children may have this problem at the beginning of the year for a few years.