Physical Development 4-6 years

Physical Development4-6 years BM

Height & Weight • The average yearly increase in height at this age is 6.4-7.6 cm • Most 4-6 year olds gain 4-5 lbs. per year but larger and smaller gains are quite common. Boys are often slightly taller and heavier. • Differences in height and weight between children increase as they grow older. • Many children are smaller or larger than the averages but are still developing normally • A shorter than average baby is likely to be shorter than average at age 5.

Proportion and Position • During these years, a child's body becomes straighter and slimmer, their neck becomes longer, their legs lengthen, and their movement becomes more coordinated.

Teeth • Children begin losing their teeth at age 6 and are gradually replaced by permanent teeth. • The 6 year old molars are the first of the adult teeth to come in. • If children continue to suck their thumb when their adult teeth are coming in, it could alter the position of the permanent teeth and the shape of the jaw.

Motor Skills • Large motor skills are becoming well developed and small motor skills are showing major improvement • They enjoy physical activities because they exercise motor skills such as walking, running, and climbing

Average Motor Skills

Feeding • The amount of food a child needs depends on: -Activities (ex. Running requires more energy than watching TV) -Height -Weight -Temperament (ex. Active child needs more energy than a lazy child) -Time of year (ex. Needs more energy in winter to keep warm)

Feeding: diet • A child who is overweight is eating more food than his or her body can use. Children who are overweight or underweight became this way from long term eating habits. • Children need parents and caregivers to teach them how to have a healthy diet. Eating habits formed early in life often continue throughout their whole life. • Children with inadequate diets have less resistance to colds and infections and may find learning more difficult (easily distracted, lack of motivation to learn).

Feeding: snacks • Snacks are good if they contribute to a child's daily nutritional needs • If Children are given too many sweets at an early age they often develop a sweet tooth but children who are given nutritious snacks enjoy healthy snacks when they are older.

Bathing • Satisfaction in washing and bathing decrease during these years; because of this they need help maintaining cleanliness habits. • Routines help children with this issue and using praise instead of nagging and scolding is more effective.

Dressing • Satisfaction in dressing decreases during these years. • Children can now dress themselves but may need help with buttons, fasteners, or shoelaces. Also, they begin to develop definite likes and dislikes in clothing. • Parents should allow them to make their own clothing decisions and should ignore mismatched outfits; instead, encourage them on how good they buttoned their shirt or how fast they got dressed.

Sleeping • By this age, individual bedrooms for boys and girls should be provided • Children now become less reluctant and even ask to go to bed but some may still use delaying tactics. • Most children go to sleep easily after a bedtime story or while listening to music

Toileting • By this age most children have few toileting accidents but occasionally have them when they are too concentrated on something or are having too much fun to stop and use the washroom. Being sick can also cause them to have accidents • Some children, when beginning school, suffer from constipation or wet their pants because of the tension they feel in their new school.

Bibliography What to Expect from Birth to 6 years. (2007). Retrieved February 21, 2012, from Child-Development-Guide: http://www.child-development-guide.com/child-development-milestone.html (1994). In H. E. Brisbane, The Developing Child (pp. 413-429). USA: Glencoe. Livestrong. (n.d.). Physical Development Between 4-9 years. Retrieved February 21, 2012, from Livestrong: http://www.livestrong.com/article/177239-physical-development-between-4-9-years/ Martinez, J. (n.d.). Physical Development in Children From 4-6. Retrieved February 21, 2012, from eHow Family: http://www.ehow.com/about_6169349_physical-development-children-4-6.html

Physical Development 4-6 years