Preschooler’s Physical Development

Discussant: Genrev C. Garcia

BSE- English 1A
Monday 11:00AM - 2:00PM

Pre schoolers
-relating to the time before a child is old enough to go to kindergarten or elementary school.
A preschool offers curriculum and assessments for the children to properly develop. Preschools are not open for
holidays and snow days. Daycare is open most holidays except for major holidays. Daycare also provides services
for snow days.
Preschools typically only have children 2.5 years to 5 years old and most must be potty trained. Whereas daycares
offer care from 6 weeks to 12 years. Preschools have lesson plans or activities geared toward teaching children with
a specific goal in mind. In a preschool, there are assessments and screening performed to guide the teachers on ways
to improve upon strengths and develop areas of weaknesses. Daycares offer a child watching service while parents
are at work or school. Child and teacher interactions may differ from preschool to daycare. Teachers in a preschool
setting are able to offer more one on one time to observe the children.

IS PRESCHOOL REQUIRED?
The short answer is no, but this is a debate within itself. For every person who tells you preschool is not necessary,
you’ll find someone else who tells you it’s vital. And scientific studies are equally divided: there are plenty of
arguments and studies that have been performed on preschool students that also waffle back and forth as to whether
these programs truly gives children a step up.

BENEFITS OF PRESCHOOL
Despite this, you can’t deny that preschool and pre-K programs come with many inherent benefits. Those that argue
all children should attend preschool point to these benefits for preschool-age kids who attend programs:

Prepares Children Academically for Kindergarten. Preschool-age programs will introduce children to their ABC’s
and even show them how to write their names.

Provides Structure. Children learn to follow a schedule, many for the first time. They also learn how to follow
instructions like putting toys away and sitting quietly for a story.

Teaches Social Interaction. When you’re thinking of the benefits of preschool, social interaction is just as important
as academic growth. Pre-K programs begin to show children the right way to interact with their peers.

Teaches Independence. While there are teachers on hand to help, mommy and daddy are not. Children have to learn
they need to get their snack and they have to know when they have to go to the bathroom.

Physical Activity. With the increase in childhood obesity in preschool-age kids and beyond, many preschool
programs are making exercise a part of the daily routine.

*Preschoolers are more into concrete ideas than abstract ones

Physical Growth and Appearance

During the preschool years, there is a steady increase in children’s height, weight, and muscle tone. Compared with
toddlers, preschoolers are longer and leaner. Their legs and trunks continue to grow, and their heads are not so large
in proportion to their bodies. As preschoolers’ bodies develop over time, the areas in their brains that control
movement continue to mature, thus enabling them to perform gross-motor skills such as running, jumping, throwing,
climbing, kicking, skipping, and fine-motor skills such as stringing beads, drawing, and cutting with scissors.
 Physical growth and development entails more than just becoming taller, stronger, or larger. It involves a series of
changes in body size, composition, and proportion. Biological and environmental factors also affect physical growth
and development. In this section, we will examine factors that affect physical growth in young children.

Big ideas about the physical development of preschoolers

1. There are significant changes in physical growth of them.

2. Their physical development is mark by the acquisition of the gross and fine motor skills.

3. They can express themselves artistically at very early age.

4. Proper nutrition and right amount of sleep are very important.

5. Teachers and caregivers can do a lot in maximizing their growth and development.

6. Those with special need in inclusive class can thrive well with appropriate adaptation made in the classroom
materials and activities.

Significant changes in Physical growth

-It increases in preschool years although it is slower in this pace than infancy and toddlerhood.
-At 3 y/o, they move from baby like features to more slender appearance of a child.
Arms, trunk and legs become longer.
-Central of gravity refers to the point on which body weight is evenly distributed.
(Toddlers are at chest level, that is why they easily fall)
Preschoolers are on lower part; belly button that gives them more ability to balance themselves.
-They move from unsteady to more steady stance.
They no longer "toddle" they can now move "successfully"
Some say that it is 5-6 the best time to begin learning skills that require balance like riding a bike or skating.
At age of 3, all "milk or baby" teeth are already in place. Also the permanent which will comes in 6 is already
developing.
It is also the good year to teach good dental hygiene.

Gross and Fine motor skills.

Gross motor development

-refers to acquiring skills that involve large muscles.

Categorized into 3:
Loco motor, Non-Loco motor and Manipulative

Loco motor
It refers to going from one place to another

Non locomotor
It refers to movement which stays on place

Manipulative
It refers to projecting and receiving objects( throwing, striking bouncing catching dribbling)

They are physically active, Highest activity- age of 3, Lower/Lessen activity- age of 4 and above.
They should be given activities which will allow their larger muscles to perform.

Having regular activities help them to build and maintain healthy body, reduce emotional distress and helps them to
increase learning capacity.

Fine motor development

-Refers to acquiring activity by smaller muscles.

Different environment means different experiences. (In urban and rural places)
At the end of preschool years, most of them are able to hold pencil and do activities thru their hands.
They can also do "self help skills" if they are aptly supported.

Handedness develops usually in age of 4.

Preschooler's Artistic Development

-It is innate to every preschoolers to create an art( of whatever kind )
Victor Lowenfeld - Stages of Drawing

1. Scribbling stage
-Begins with large zig zag lines which later becomes circular markings and sooner discrete shape are drawn. Will be
name after the work.
2. Pre schematic stage
- May include early representation( quite concrete ) can be recognize, they usually give same name to their works.
Commonly a body figure/ human.

3. Schematic Stage
- More elaborated scenes are depicted. Based on experience and exposure. May include houses, tress sky people.
Initially they look like in the air but sooner be on a ground line.

If everyone will just observe preschooler, they will say that they are just drawing similar things a hundred times.

Representation of their drawing does not only involve fine motor skills but also cognitive skills. Their works show
us how they understand the world.

Preschooler's Nutrition and sleep

Nutrition has a great effects on their physical growth and development. Their nutritional status is the result of their
nutritional intake. Annual Nutrition month is designed to advocate about proper nutrition.

It is very vital for a preschooler to get sufficient amount of rest and sleep.
They benefit from 10-12 hours of sleep each day.

Vital biological processes happens when they are asleep.

During sleep, esp in the dream state (rapid eye movement) growth hormones are released. Blood supply to muscles
are likewise increased to regain energy. Also sleeping increase brain activity and productivity.

Chart: Movement and Physical Developmental Milestones in Preschool

Age 3

Climbs well
Runs easily

Pedals a tricycle

Walks up and down stairs, one foot on each step

Washes and dries hands

Age 4

Hops and stands on one foot up to 2 seconds

Pours, cuts with supervision, and mashes own food

Catches a bounced ball most of the time

Draws a person with two to four body parts

Uses scissors

Age 5

Stands on one foot for 10 seconds or longer

Hops, and may be able to skip

Can do a somersault

Uses a fork and spoon and sometimes a table knife

Swings and climbs

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2013). Developmental Milestones. An electronic resource
available from: http://www.cdc.gov/NCBDDD/actearly/pdf/checklists/All_Checklists.pdf

Influences on Physical Growth

https://l.messenger.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thebump.com%2Fa%2Fpreschool-
age&h=AT2zAQK5dnrhSew6hQoR-
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https://stream.virtuallabschool.org/physical/4575/4575-480.mp4

http://www.getreadytoread.org/early-learning-childhood-basics/early-childhood/understanding-physical-
development-in-preschoolers

https://www.ukessays.com/essays/young-people/preschool-and-preschool-child-development-young-people-
essay.php?vref=1

https://www.virtuallabschool.org/fcc/physical-development/lesson-3