Chapter 13: Physical Development from Four to Six
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Transcript of Chapter 13: Physical Development from Four to Six
+Chapter Objectives
Summarize how an average child’s posture and body shape change from ages four to six
Compare and Contrast average motor skills development for four, five, and six-year olds
Explain why good nutrition is essential for children ages four to six
Identify three ways that four to six-year olds are able to care for themselves
Describe three steps that can help minimize toileting accidents List three areas of outdoor safety to discuss with four to six-year
olds
+Growth from Four to Six
Rate of growth is slightly slower than in children ages 1 to 3
Average increase in height during these years is about 2-1/2 to 3 inches Most children gain 4 to 5 pounds
Boys are slightly heavier and taller during this period
Height and Weight
+Growth from Four to Six
Noticeable changes between 4th and 7th birthdays Bodies become straighter slimmer and protruding belly flattens Hold shoulders back and upper bodies are more erect Chest broadens and flattens with improved abdominal strength Legs lengthen, grow straighter and firmer Neck becomes longer Balance and coordination improves
Hold their arms close to their bodies when they walk or run
Posture and Body Shape
+Growth from Four to Six
Children this age start loosing primary teeth Larger permanent teeth start to appear
Children start with 20 primary teeth but end up with around 32 adult permanent teeth
6-year old molars appear and are called the “first molars” First permanent teeth to appear 4 all together; 2 on top and 2 on bottom They appear behind the primary teeth and act as
an anchor keeping other teeth in their place
Primary teeth are lost in the same order they appear Generally the 2 lower front teeth and 2 upper front
teeth
Teeth
+Teeth
Some children in this age group continue to suck their thumbs Self-soothing techniques
Most adults worry about this habit but it is sometimes best to just ignore it Trying to force a child to quit sucking his or
her thumb can cause more problems
Generally children will stop on their own If thumb sucking is excessive, consult
your physician After the 5th birthday, thumb sucking can
cause changes in the shape of the roof of the mouth or in the way the teeth line up
Thumb Sucking
+Development Four to Six
Basic gross and fine motor skills improve significantly during this period Many motor skills must be
taught and require guidance and practice (i.e. throwing a ball)
Motor Skills
+Motor Skills
REMEMBER: Gross motor skills are also called “large motor” skills
4, 5, and 6 year olds are very energetic Favorite activities are physical activities and include running,
jumping, climbing, or turning somersaults
4 year olds are learning to throw and catch both large and small balls
5 year olds show improved speed and coordination in all their activities
6 year olds movement are even more smoothly coordinated Enjoy balancing activities like walking on a curb or learning to ride a
bicycle Ones that involve rhythm
Gross Motor
+Motor Skills
REMEMBER: Fine motor skills are also called “small motor” skills Small muscle groups such as fingers, wrists, and ankles
4 and 5 year olds show improved dexterity Dexterity is ease and skill in physical activity
Most 4 year olds can learn to lace their shoes Can dress themselves and may not be able to fasten buttons until they are
5
5 year olds improve in hand eye coordination has improved to the point they can pour liquids from a pitcher into a glass Enjoy cutting, pasting, and using glue, print some letters yet trouble
printing words
6 year olds show even greater fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination Able to draw detailed pictures, use scissors, and write their own.
Fine Motor Skills
+Hand Preference
Some children express a preference for using one hand more than the other after age 2 Some switch off during their preschool years
2nd half of the 5th year, most children are either using their right or left hand for most activities
85% of all children prefer to use their right hand for most activities Ambidextrous means being able to use both hands with equal skill
Research continues on how a preference for one hand develops Some believe heredity is probably the source of hand preference Others think it depends on which hand parents usually put objects
into Some link hand preference to the areas of the brain controlling motor
skills or language
+Health and Wellness
Research has shown that 4-6 year old children do better when they eat 5 or 6 small, nutritious meals and snacks a day Small meals are better suited to their small stomach size
and provide a more constant level of energy
Snacks should be nutritious, appealing foods rather than convenience foods that are high in salt, sugar, or fat. Apples, grapes, cheese, yogurt, and raisins
Encourage good eating habits and do not force it Forcing kids to eat certain foods has shown to have
negative effects and an issue with eating certain foods Do not use foods as a reward
+Teaching Children About Nutrition
Take advantage of children’s curiosity at this stage and use food as a source for learning Involve children in preparing meals to increase their
interest Tear lettuce for salads Stir orange juice concentrate Mix batter
Children feel proud about the contribution they made to meal time Improves fine motor skills Spending time in the kitchen together gives positive time
that parents and children can bond
At Home
+Teaching Children About Nutrition
Schools use food as a learning tool Teachers ask questions to promote learning about food
Texture, appearance, quantity, nutrition Counting (Math Readiness)
Children can learn ingredients that are good for them and help them grow Foods come from different food groups
School lunch is the first time many children will make an independent choice about what they eat Children who are in school all day usually eat the lunch offered at school
or bring lunch from home School lunch programs may offer foods that can be higher in sugar or
salt, so discuss with your children the healthy choices
At School
+Nutritional Concerns
Lack of money to buy nutritious foods is not the most common cause of poor nutrition Some parents are simply not aware of the right choices or
understand the basics of good nutrition
Parents may rely too much on convenience foods Some foods may be nutritious but are way too high in fat,
calories, or salts
Some adults set poor examples Poor nutrition will weaken the health of a child which
means a child might get sick more often
Poor Nutrition
+Nutritional Concerns
Children 4-6 vary their body types Some may seem chunky or slim but are still healthy
Always consult a doctor if questions arise about a child’s health If a doctor decides there is a problem with a child’s weight, they may
recommend more physical activity MyPyramid is a resource parents can use in planning healthy meals and
snacks When a child consumes more calories than they expel, that child is at risk
for being overweight The opposite can also be true, not consuming enough calories for the amount
the body expels, a child can become underweight
Overweight children are at risk for developing life-threatening diseases such as diabetes and heart disease
Weight Problems
+Checkups and Immunizations
Most children between 5 and 6 will begin kindergarten Before they can attend school, they are required to receive a medical
check-up and certain immunizations
Most schools require Hepatitis B Diphtheria Tetanus Pertussis (Whooping Cough) Polio Measles Mumps Rubella (German measles)
Check with schools for specific requirements
+Self-Care Skills
4, 5, and 6 year olds are usually able to dress themselves Some may need help with fasteners
Many children have difficulty putting together clothes that match Learning opportunity: Parents can teach children about matching colors and
clothes
Comfort, durability, and economy are still the main guidelines for choosing clothes
Children this age have definite likes and dislikes Some have favorite garments Group identification becomes important at this age
Children choose to wear clothes like their classmates Group Identification is a feeling of belonging with others
Parents can satisfy a child’s need to wear certain clothes by allowing them to select their won
Clothing: Dressing and Choosing Clothes
+Self-Care Skills
Children this age can learn basic clothing care Dirty clothes go in the
appropriate place When it is laundry time,
children can help sort clothes They can help fold and hang
up clean clothes Putting clothes away is easier
if the child has storage within reach Putting hooks at eye level,
low rods and handy shelves
Caring for Clothes
+Self-Care
Many this age are less interested in washing and bathing regularly than when they were younger
Praising children for taking a bath or shower is much more effective than nagging them to do so
Set up and maintain hygiene routines
Children begin handling a tooth brush well about age 5
Tooth decay is a special concern at this age because permanent teeth are coming in
Dentists sometimes apply: Fluoride- a substance that
strengthens the enamel of teeth to prevent decay
Enamel- the hard, outer coating of teeth
Bath Time Caring for Teeth
+Sleeping and Toileting
By age 4, children are not normally taking afternoon naps
Some continue taking a daily name until they begin a full day of school, depending on their needs
Most children this age need 10-12 hours of sleep Keep bedtime routines consistent so the child gets
adequate amounts of sleep Children this age are generally more cooperative about
going to bed
Sleeping
+Toileting
By their 4th birthday, most children have few toileting accidents, either at night or during they day
When accidents occur, it is often the child is too busy with another activity and doesn’t want to stop playing or they forget
Sometimes a child may have an accident if they are in a new place because they are afraid to ask to go to the bathroom
Use these steps to minimize accidents: Make sure they use the
bathroom before leaving home
When arriving in a public place, point out where the bathroom is
Keep an extra outfit available incase of an accident
Children when they start school sometimes have accidents because of all the stress
+Outdoor Safety
Bicycles- safety helmets should always be worn to protect the head; rules of the road should be explained to children
Traffic- one of the most dangerous situations for children Taught to look both ways before crossing the street Never play near parked cars
Playgrounds- Wonderful for socializations and gross motor skills Safety Precautions
Swings-always sit on the swing, never stand. One child at a time. Stay a safe distance from others swinging
Slides- hold onto handrails when climbing the ladders, slide feet first, do not slide down in groups
Climbing Equipment- Not too many children on one piece of equipment, assistance for younger children, and age-appropriate