The Pre-School Years

1. The Pre-School Years

2. Social Patterns &Types Of Play Unoccupied Play- Not involved with any activity Observes what looks interesting but interest keep shifting. Solitary Play- playing alone with toys(Infant) Onlooker Play-Watching others play acts interested but not actively playing(Toddler) Parallel Play-Playing side by side but not playing together (ages 2 and 3) Associative Play- Children play together sharing toys and interact. No organization children all do what they want during play. Cooperative Play- Children play together with organization. Each kid had a task.

3. Types of Play • Dramatic Play- make believe and imagination, acting and utilizing emotions and real situations. • Active Play-interacting with kids and objects • Passive Play-non interactive child just needs quiet time • Manipulative- master or perfect skills like puzzles, building, coloring, or using tools. • Sensory- using senses and motor skills • Rough& Tumble- kids able to release energy and use emotions increase social and physical development

4. Social Development

5. Emotional Need help recognizing and expressing emotions Caregivers should accept this and help them understand all emotions they experience

6. Emotional Development

7. At 4 years of age…….. • Intent on asserting independence • Often argumentative and are bossy • Unusually loving and affectionate • Proud of accomplishments, abilities, possessions, and creations • Use new language skills with enthusiasm, enjoy sounds of it • Like when laughing at their own jokes, not their mistakes • Respect the need to explore and test. Avoid treating them like toddlers • 4 Year old putting Baribes away

8. At 5 years of age……… • Quieter period • Generally rather practical, sympathetic, and serious • Improved attention span let’s them finish what they started • Better memory • Increasingly realistic • Continue to enjoy slapjack humor, yet can ask meaningful questions • Adult criticism is hard to take • More patient, generous, persistent and conscientious • Sometimes feel anxious, want to receive acceptable outcomes • Hand preference completely evident • A 5 year olds thoughts on marriage • The five year old ladies man

9. At 6 years of age…… • Often stubborn and quarrelsome • Resent directions and act as if they know everything • Rapidly changing moods(love-hate, accept-reject, smile-storm) sometimes for no apparent reason • Learning to appreciate humorous situations and jokes • Throw themselves into fun • Many are school all day long for the first time • Longing to feel grown up, but still feel small and dependent • Crave praise and approval, easily hurt and discouraged • A 6 year olds first heartbreak • 6 year old math wiz

10. Anger • Four years- physically fighting, anger lasts longer than before, attempt to threaten and get even • Five years- More likely to try to hurt others children's feelings than hurting physically • Six years- Even more stinging with words, they tease, insult, nag, and make fun of others • 4 year old upset over oreos

11. Fear • Children from 4-6 well developed imagination • Accept the fear- having someone older who understands can greatly help • Let child express fear without ridicule • Help the child feel able to face to fear • 4 year old toilet fears

12. Jealousy • Often takes form of tattling, criticizing, or even lying • Some children react to their own feelings of jealousy by boasting. May also result in tensional outlets such as nail-biting, wetting the bed, and tantrums • Encourage empathy to help lessen jealousy

13. Physical • Rate of growth is only slightly lower than from ages two to three. • Average yearly increase in height is 2 ½ to 3 inches. • Most children gain about 4 to 5 pounds per year. However, smaller or larger gains are quite common • Body becomes straighter and slimmer

14. Gain about 4-5 pounds a year Grows 2-3 Inches each year Physical Development

15. Social and Moral • 4- form friendships with playmates. Best in groups of three or four. Fighting can be common. Family still more important • 5- Outgoing and talkative. Best in groups of five or six. Quarreling is less frequent. More respect for others belongings. Social acceptance is important. Gossip often begins. • 6- Social relations are caused by friction, aggression, threats and stubbornness. Want everything. Jealous. Best friends usually same sex; Closer and longer.

16. Family Relationships • Four Years- Strong sense of family and home. Apt to quarrel and bicker with siblings. • Five Years- Proud of parents and delighted to help. Protective, kind, and dependable. • Six Years- Less in harmony with family, now more self centered. They always come first. Often rough and impatient. • 5 year old talks about mom

17. Moral Development • Process of gradually learning to base ones behavior on personal beliefs of right and wrong- begins early in life. • Cannot yet understand that it is wrong to hurt others. They just know that it makes the caregivers unhappy. They learn to avoid this behavior because they don’t want to lose the love and approval.

18. Lying • As children start to learn the difference between truth and lies, the information isn’t always right. Exaggerating the details of a story is common. • Help them sort fact from lie, but don’t punish the, for being imaginative. • “The Boy Who Cried Wolf” is a good example. • A reason for lying is fear of consequences. The punishment should never be so severe they are afraid. • Avoid direct confrontations.

19. Cognitive Development

20. Reading • The importance of reading aloud: • Vocabulary • Concepts • Vicarious experiences • Understanding general information • Develop desire to learn to read • Learn how books work • Expression of love and caring • Share emotions/develop empathy

21. How to read aloud • Preview the books • To know: • Language • Storyline • How to focus child’s attention • Understand length of the story • Know appropriate vocal expressions • Understand emotions related to the story

22. How to select quality books • Award winning stories • Quality authors and illustrators • Poetry • Dr. Seuss • Easy readers • Age appropriate • “It’s Hard to Be Five!”

23. Kindergarten Readiness • http://www.cde.state.co.us/sites/default/files/documents/cdelib/brochures/download/kindergartenenglish.pdf

24. What is expected as a child enters Kindergarten? • At your table review your information • Create a poster with kindergarten expectations • Include a section on tips for parents & caregivers

25. Are you ready for…Kindergarten • 1. Tie Shoes and Zip Coat • 2.Follow 2/3step direction- stand up, say your birthday spin around • 3. Write Full Name • 4.Count to 20 and • 5. Jump on one foot • 6. Match lower and upper case letter • R d • B n • G r • D b • N g

26. Learning Disabilities • ADHD- cannot concentrate for normal length of time. Children who have this often don’t finish what they start, don’t seem to listen and are easily distracted. • Dyslexia- prevents understanding symbols in a normal way. Children are often very intelligent, but their brains do not process things visually well.

27. Learning Disabilities • 1. Difficulty mastering academic work • 2. Development is uneven • 3.Not due to living in a disadvantaged environment • 4. Not due to mental or emotional problems

28. Gifted and Talented • 3-10% of children are gifted or talented. This means they are unusually intelligent or special talent in an artistic area. • Avoid overwhelming them with unrealistic expectations. Give them a chance to play with it. • Can become easily frustrated and bored in school. May be labeled “problem children”. • Most show recognizable signs by two.