Physical Development from Four to Six
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Transcript Physical Development from Four to Six
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Chapter 13: Physical
Development from Four to Six
Unit 5: The Child from Four to Six
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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
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13.1
Growth and Development
from Four to Six
Chapter 15-Unit 5
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Growth from Four to Six
Height and Weight
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
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Growth from Four to Six
Posture and Body Shape
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
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Growth from Four to Six
Teeth
Children this age start loosing primary teeth
Larger permanent teeth start to appear
6-year old molars appear and are called the
“first molars”
Children start with 20 primary teeth but end up
with around 32 adult permanent teeth
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
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Teeth
Thumb Sucking
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
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Development Four to Six
Motor Skills
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)
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Motor Skills
Gross Motor
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
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Motor Skills
Fine Motor Skills
REMEMBER: Fine motor skills are also called “small motor” skills
4 and 5 year olds show improved dexterity
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
Dexterity is ease and skill in physical activity
Most 4 year olds can learn to lace their shoes
Small muscle groups such as fingers, wrists, and ankles
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.
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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
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13.2
Caring for Children from
4 to 6
Physical Development from Four to Six
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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
Snacks should be nutritious, appealing foods rather than
convenience foods that are high in salt, sugar, or fat.
Small meals are better suited to their small stomach size and
provide a more constant level of energy
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
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Teaching Children About Nutrition
At Home
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
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Teaching Children About Nutrition
At School
Schools use food as a learning tool
Teachers ask questions to promote learning about food
Children can learn ingredients that are good for them and help
them grow
Texture, appearance, quantity, nutrition
Counting (Math Readiness)
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
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Nutritional Concerns
Poor Nutrition
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
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Nutritional Concerns
Weight Problems
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
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Checkups and Immunizations
Most children between 5 and 6 will begin kindergarten
Most schools require
Before they can attend school, they are required to receive a medical
check-up and certain immunizations
Hepatitis B
Diphtheria
Tetanus
Pertussis (Whooping Cough)
Polio
Measles
Mumps
Rubella (German measles)
Check with schools for specific requirements
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Self-Care Skills
Clothing: Dressing and Choosing Clothes
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
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Self-Care Skills
Caring for Clothes
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
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Self-Care
Bath Time
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
Caring for Teeth
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
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Sleeping and Toileting
Sleeping
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
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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
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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