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Physical Development from Four to Six. Chapter 14. 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.
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Physical Developmentfrom Four to Six Chapter 14
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.).
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.
Motor Skills • During this period, most basic large and small motor skills improve significantly.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
