Physical Growth & Development

1 – 3 Year olds

Learning Targets

• I can describe average changes in Height, weight, posture and proportion in ages 1-3

• I can distinguish between small and large motor skills and give examples of each

• I can describe how to care for children ages 1-3, including issues of nutrition, hygiene, sleep & toilet training

An ancient Chinese Proverb

• “Give a man a fish and he will not go hungry for a day. Teach a man to fish and he will not go hungry for life.”

• How does this idea relate to caring for a children’s self-care??

• What factors might interfere with a caregiver’s desire to teach self-care?

• How can caregivers prevent those factors from getting in the way??

Questions…….

• What is a toddler??

• What age or ages does the term refer to??

• Where does the name come from??

Infants to Toddlers• Physcial growth slows considerably after the first

year

• Physical skills improve!!

• Term toddlers refers to children who make uncertain movement– Around 1, unsteady steps (1-2 years)

• Preschoolers ages 3 – 5. – They walk steadily, hop, jump, & run – Need lots of space – Time each day for active play (exercise muscles &

stored up energy)– Attention span longer – but activities changed often

Read Active Play for Growth & Development

• Page 349

• Answer questions 1 & 2 with your table

• What are some other games that you can play with children aged 1-3???

• Why mustn’t toddlers’ activities be too diffiucult for their phyical /mental abilities?

Height & Weight

• Both Slower in this period than in infancy

• Gain about ½ lb per month

• Height also slows by about half

• Chart on page 350 shows the average height & weight for the ages

• Heredity & environmental influences more noticeable

• After 1st b-day, children show greater variation in size– Tall 2 yr old = tall adult

Proportion & Posture

• B/c of changes in proportion, posture improves!!!

• Until age 2, a child’s head, chest & abdomen all mesure about the same

• All three grow at the same rate

• Between ages 2-3 – chest becomes larger than the head & abdomen– Arms, legs & trunk grow rapidly

• Help improve child’s balance & motor skills

Proportion & Posture

• 2 years – stands straighter, but posture in not completely

erect– Abdomen still protrudes (sticks out), head –

somewhat forward– Elbows & knees – slightly bent

• 3 years– Posture more upright– Spine has strengthened – back straighter– Lost some (not all) baby fat)

In groups of 3

• You are to plan a lesson for children aged 3 called “Taking Care of Your Teeth”

• Class should teach children the order of primary teeth appear, factors that keep teeth healthy, & factors that contribute to tooth decay.

• You can prepare diagrams & visual aid,• Demonstrations• Create a rhyming jingle to help

rememberance • Info on the web and page 351

Teeth

Motor Skills

• Remember 3 patters– Head to foot– Near to far– Simple to complex

• Large motor skills– Involve use and control of the large muscles of the

back, legs, shoulders & arms

• Small motor skills– Depend on the use & control of the muscles of the

wrists, fingers, & ankles

Motor Skills

• Children do not acquire them as predictable during infancy

• Variations caused by differences in physical size, health & diet, interests, temperament, opportunities for physical play & many other factors

• Developmentally appropriate – tasks are suitable for the child given his/her age & interests

Large Motor Skills

• Physical exercise & repeated practice

• Improvement – slow buy steady

• Walking – 1st b-day, pride

Small Motor Skills• Between 1st & 2nd b-day, learn to feed themselves &

drink from a cup fairly well– Poor hand-eye coordination causes spills at the

beginning

• 1 yr olds – playing w/blocks, pyramid of different size rings, musical rolling toys= helps small motor skills

• 2 yr olds – improves dexterity – skillful use of the hands & fingers – Turn pages of a book one at a time, peel banana, enjoy

using crayons, build towers

• 3yr olds – show more skill, delight in taking things apart & putting them back together

Choosing Foods For Children• Need a variety of nutritious food daily• Plan meals using MyPlate (MyPyramid)• Pediatricians recommend that milk or milk products

not be given to a child until bday 1– Ages 1-2= whole milk– After 2, reduced-fat (lowmilk)

• Be CAUTIOUS in serving convenience food to children– High in salt & preservatives

• Chose fresh foods – use nutitrion labels & ingredients list = nutritional choices

Healthy Eating 1-3• To promote interest in nutritious foods – make them appealing

• Color – variety of color: interest • Texture – different senations: crunchy, chewy &

juicy • Shape – adds appeal: help the child identify

shapes, cookie cutters (nice)• Temperature – hot & cold foods – safety is

concern – be careful – always check• Ease of eating – ground beef easier to chew

than a pork chop, loves spaghetti – cut into short pieces

Mealtime Tips

• Meals = important events in the child’s day

• Practice skills, learn independence, explore textures, colors & talk to others

Mealtime Guidelines• Include children in meal

preparation whenever possible

• Follow a regular schedule for meals/snacks

• Keep meals pleasant (model manners)

• Use a sturdy, unbreakable dish or plate w/sides when serve the child’s food

• Choose a cup that the child can hold easily & that doesn’t readily tip

• Provide child-sized eating utensils

• Let a toddler sit in a high chair for meals

• Set good examples in food choices

Mealtime Guidelines

• Avoid using food as a punishment or a bride. If you say, “You can’t have a cookie until you finish your vegetables,” you give the impression that vegetables are bad and cookies are good.

Bathing • Help young children develop both good attitudes

about hygiene (personal cleanliness) and good hygiene skills

• Toilet training – wash hands after each time they use the bathroom

• Daily baths – nice habit, good hygiene skills & at this age most love water!

• 1 yr olds – they want to wash themselves

• 2yr olds – most can wash, rinse & dry pretty well

• 3 yr olds – can bathe with little supervision

Bathing

• Bathtubs are still dangerous for children• A child can drown in as little as 1” of water• NEVER leave a child alone in the bath • Cover the tub to prevent slipping• No set age at which children can safely

shower– Depends on child’s ability to control water temp,

stand in shower safely & get him/herself clean

Caring for the Teeth

• Teach them to brush right after eating – the longer food remains in the mouth the more it can damage teeth

• Encouragement – small, soft toothbrush & a bit of toothpaste – http://www.spinbrush.com/Kids_ParentTips.html

• Attempts – not very successful, but the opportunity = IMPORTANT

• Even at age 3, kids will still need adult help

Caring for the Teeth

• Many dentists recommend:

• Show kids how to floss teeth– Start with top teeth one night and the bottom

teeth the next night

• 18 months – good age for children to have first dental checkup

Dressing

• Caregivers should encourage self-dressing when a child shows interest

• Involves a number of large & small motor skills that must be learned one step at a time

• Patience = IMPORTANT– Child learns these skills through practice

• Usually starts around 13-14 months

Dressing• 13 months - Holds an arm out for a sleeve.• Next, may learn to actually push his/her own arm

through sleeve• By 2, pull up pants, but shirts still continue to be

difficult • Garments – inside out, backwards• By 3 – pretty much can dress independently, except

help w/fasteners & shoelaces • Provides – self-esteem, independence, responsibility• Provide clothes that are easy to put on & take out

Choosing Clothing • Comfort – allow freedom of movement

– Size – IMPORTANT: too small – restrict movements– Sizes do not always fit the same, if possible let child try on

• Durability – withstand hard wear & repeated washing – Quality of fabric & construction of clothing – look for close, even

stitching w/strong thread– Fasteners should be firmly attached– Cotton – good choice – shirts & underwear– Synthetic fibers – made from chemical rather than natural sources

• Economy – choose clothes that allow for growth– Let kids help

Sleeping • Near 2nd b-day – sleeping habits change

– Less sleep, may not go to sleep as easily or willingly

– 2 yr no longer takes a morning nap– 3yr old may give up their afternoon nap as well

• May change b/c they may seem more dependent on adults than in previous year

• Often use self comforting techniques: thumb sucking, rocking the crib, cuddling a favorite blanket or toy

Sleeping • 3 yr old – not unusual to wake in the middle of the

night & even get out of bed– Emotional experiences of the day, excitement at bedtime or

nighttime fears may cause insure feeling at night

• 2 & 3 yr olds – fear of the dark – Many causes– Fears – very real & usually very troubling – Rarely a quick solution– Discussion, night light– Patience & understanding – Ridicule or shaming only makes a problem worse

Toilet Training

• Most begin sometime at 18 months

• No set age

• Each child should start when he/she is physically mature & emotionally ready

Readiness (Toilet Training)

• Sphincter muscles – the muscles that control elimination – Child must recognize the body sustentations

that lead elimination • Only then is he/she ready

• Emotionally ready – settled in a family daily routine– During move or any similar event that requires

adjustment – not a good time

Giving Help

• Attitudes – very important

• Calm encouragement better (more effective) than rules & punishment– Build self-esteem

• Ready – want to succeed– Child resists – wait for readiness

• Even after trained – some accidents should be expected

Giving Help

• Child – may prefer to use special seat or a separate potty chair– More independence

• Frightened by the flushing toilet - better to wait till child leaves room – but still teach that they need to flush toilet

• Bowel training before bladder training– When you see the awareness on a child’s face –

suggest sitting on the toilet seat or potty chair– Be available & encouraging – not forceful & demanding

Giving Help

• Bladder follows several months later

• Some may learn at the same time

• Many are encouraged when given training pants – heavy absorbent underpants, in place of diapers – Makes it possible to use the potty

independently – Sign of maturity

Assignment

• Read Keeping Children Safe & Healthy page 372-373 – Questions 1-2

• Worksheets

• Complete Studyguide and/or complete questions #1-9 on page 374

• Test – tomorrow!!!