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Chapter 13: Physical Development from Four to SixUnit 5: The Child 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

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Growth and Development from Four to SixChapter 15-Unit 5

13.1

+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

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Caring for Children from 4 to 6Physical Development from Four to Six

13.2

+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