The Nature of Child Development & Learning about Research SKills

1. The Nature of Child Development& Learning about Research SKills Unit 2 Lesson 1 HPW 3C

2. Why is it important to learn about Preschoolers? • Many families today have working mothers & fathers. During the times parents are away from home, they need someone they can trust to care for their children. That someone might be you! • Taking care of 4 and 5 year olds is a very important job. It is also a lot of fun. If you know about preschoolers, you will know what to expect when you take care of them. You will also be prepared to do your best work.

3. Who are Preschoolers? • Children who are 4 and 5. They may be enrolled in a 'pre-school' program like a nursery school or a day care center. • Preschoolers are no longer babies or toddlers. • Preschoolers are still growing physically, but seem to be growing fastest mentally. • They are often thought of as little sponges that absorb everything around them. • Preschoolers love to learn and will bombard you with questions, stories and facts. • Best described as LOTS OF ENERGY! • They learn constantly and use their energy to explore.

4. Research Skill 1:What is a Preschoolers job? • As a class – take a poll. • Put your findings on the board. • Add findings to your notes

5. Preschoolers have two main jobs: • to learn how to make things happen, • to learn to like people and make those people like them back. • These two developmental jobs help children learn to be independent and to explore and discover their abilities. • They take responsibility for making themselves the kind of people they want to be.

6. Facts about 4 and 5 year olds The following information focuses on the characteristics of four and five year olds: • have growing vocabularies • figures in their drawings become easy to recognize • are both independent and social • prefer playing with others, but enjoy playing by themselves too • can tell you how they feel • do not grow as fast as babies. Need about 12 hours sleep • love to dress, feed, and go to bathroom by themselves • want to try everything and need lots of activities to remain busy • no two preschoolers are alike--individual differences in all preschoolers • like hugs & kisses • can often seem 'out of control' by laughing hysterically, jumping on beds or screaming • may have unreasonable fears or bad habits such as nail biting, nose picking, or swearing • may tell you they love you one minute and hate you the next • are hardly ever quiet because they often sing, make noises and play loudly • need lots of praise and specific praise for their accomplishments • want to imitate what an adult/parent is doing

7. Ages & Stages of Growth Preschoolers develop in many ways: • They become more aware of what they can do physically with their bodies. • They become more sensitive to their parents' and friends' feelings as well as to their own. • They slowly learn to deal with their feelings and emotions. • They also learn to make friends, play and love.

8. Preschoolers develop in 4 ways: • physically • intellectually • emotionally • socially • We can think of this development as a pie with four slices. Preschoolers need all four slices to grow fully. If one slice is missing, their development will be incomplete. • As preschoolers grow, you need to keep all four stages in mind. As their muscles grow, so do their emotions. As their capacity to think grows, so does their need for companionship and friendship. Therefore, development is interrelated and all areas of development occur at the same time.

9. Four Year Olds:Comparing Four and Five year olds in different areas of child Development

10. Five Year Olds:Comparing Four and Five year olds in different areas of child Development

11. Research Skills 2: Analyzing reading After reviewing the information in the readings, state two of the most surprising developments you feel takes place in the: a. Four-year old b. Five-year old

12. Research Skills 3: ObservationWhat skills are most developed in the preschool room at the FDC? • Create a survey for our class to take • Each member should generate 2 questions based on the reading • Compile your survey questions • Gather Data • Explain your findings.

13. Positive Development of Children • Now that you understand more about the four areas of child development, parents and caregivers must ensure development continues in a positive manner. • Preschoolers are learning so much that they need help to understand their behaviours. • Understand that preschoolers learn by what they see and hear, therefore, caregivers and parents must be good role models.

14. Research Skills 4: Positive vs. Negative Development How would you as a parent/caregiver help to shape a child's positive development in the following situations? 1. A five-year-old is trying to tie his shoelaces. He gets so frustrated, he begins to cry. 2. A four-year-old hits her one-year-old sister and takes her toys. 3. A five-year-old has been waking up in the middle of the night for the past week, afraid there is a monster in the closet. 4. A four-year-old has been calling his neighbour bad names and making up stories about him.

15. Research Skill 5: From Negative to Positive Feedback Record 5 negative statements you have heard parents use with their preschooler. Beside each statement, write the same message stated in a positive way. Example: Negative Statement Rewritten as a Positive Statement • John, why can’t you make this kite fly? Are you a baby? • John, flying a kite is tough, but if you practice you’ll be able to do it without help like the older kids. Explain why it is important to frame statements are POSITIVE?

16. Research Skill 6 : Changing negative statements to positive statements Some people may argue that television could affect a child’s social, intellectual and emotional development. What is your opinion? Explain using examples from shows you have seen. Add the url to your notes then view two (2) children's television programs: • one educational (Sesame Street) • one entertainment (Bugs Bunny) Record your opinion about how each of these shows could make a positive impact on the development of children and how these shows could make a negative impact on a child's development.

17. Research Skill 7: Formulating conclusions • Developmentally appropriate toys: • Visit a local toy store on-line (ex: Toys R Us) • Find an example of a toy sited for a preschooler (aged 3 years) . • As a class review the toys chosen and vote for the most appropriate • While voting –based on developmental reasons, you must explain your choice