The Nature of Child Development

& Learning about Research

SKills

Unit 2 Lesson 1HPW 3C

Why is it important to learn about Preschoolers?

Many families today have working mothers & fathers. During the times parents are away from home, they need someone they can trust to care for their children. That someone might be you!

Taking care of 4 and 5 year olds is a very important job. It is also a lot of fun. If you know about preschoolers, you will know what to expect when you take care of them. You will also be prepared to do your best work.

Who are Preschoolers?

Children who are 4 and 5. They may be enrolled in a 'pre-school' program like a nursery school or a day care center.

Preschoolers are no longer babies or toddlers. Preschoolers are still growing physically, but seem

to be growing fastest mentally. They are often thought of as little sponges that

absorb everything around them. Preschoolers love to learn and will bombard you

with questions, stories and facts. Best described as LOTS OF ENERGY! They learn constantly and use their energy to

explore.

Research Skill 1:What is a Preschoolers job?

As a class – take a poll. Put your findings on the board.Add findings to your notes

Preschoolers have two main jobs:

1. to learn how to make things happen, 2. to learn to like people and make those

people like them back.

These two developmental jobs help children learn to be independent and to explore and discover their abilities.

They take responsibility for making themselves the kind of people they want to be.

Facts about 4 and 5 year olds

The following information focuses on the characteristics of four and five year olds:

have growing vocabularies figures in their drawings become easy to

recognize are both independent and social prefer playing with others, but enjoy playing

by themselves too can tell you how they feel do not grow as fast as babies. Need about 12

hours sleep love to dress, feed, and go to bathroom by

themselves want to try everything and need lots of

activities to remain busy no two preschoolers are alike--individual

differences in all preschoolers like hugs & kisses can often seem 'out of control' by laughing

hysterically, jumping on beds or screaming may have unreasonable fears or bad habits

such as nail biting, nose picking, or swearing may tell you they love you one minute and

hate you the next are hardly ever quiet because they often

sing, make noises and play loudly need lots of praise and specific praise for

their accomplishments want to imitate what an adult/parent is doing

Four year olds Five Year olds

four year olds are unsure of themselves and are clumsy

five year olds are steadier and more confident when trying new activities

four years olds do not know when to stop playing and have to be told to slow down

five year olds know when to stop playing to avoid feeling 'worn out'

four year olds can cut a line with scissors, draw or paint designs, print some letters of the alphabet, dress themselves, and catch a big ball

five year olds can copy squares, designs, letters and small numbers. They can fas-ten buttons and zippers, tie shoe laces, fold paper and catch a small ball

Ages & Stages of Growth

Preschoolers develop in many ways: They become more aware of what they

can do physically with their bodies. They become more sensitive to their

parents' and friends' feelings as well as to their own.

They slowly learn to deal with their feelings and emotions.

They also learn to make friends, play and love.

Preschoolers develop in 4 ways:

1. physically 2. intellectually 3. emotionally 4. socially

We can think of this development as a pie with four slices. Preschoolers need all four slices to grow fully. If one slice is missing, their development will be incomplete.

As preschoolers grow, you need to keep all four stages in mind. As their muscles grow, so do their emotions. As their capacity to think grows, so does their need for companionship and friendship. Therefore, development is interrelated and all areas of development occur at the same time.

Four Year Olds:Comparing Four and Five year olds in different areas of child Development

Physical Can hop, skip, turn sharp corners, run, roll, climb ladders and trees, throw balls. Can talk and eat, or walk and play at same time. Think they are too old to rest. Can use blunt scissors. Can cut a line. Draw pictures of humans with head, body arms and legs. Laces shoes, but cannot tie them. Grows about 4 pounds and 3 inches yearly

Intellectual Attention spans longer. Asks questions. Does dramatic play. Starts to tell difference between fact and fantasy. Is interested in death. Begins to understand time concepts and to know the seasons. Knows of sex difference. Likes dressing up and pre-tending to be an adult. Interested in TV. Likes big words. Shows interest in letters. Can count to 30.

Emotional Likes to brag and boast. Interested in rules. Acts silly if tired. Behaviour sometimes out of bounds. More fears. Understands danger. Shows temper. Beginning awareness of good and bad. Very noisy.

Social Strong need for friends. Enjoys being silly. Name-calling. Follower and tags along with older kids. Likes being in the group. More independent of adults. Inability to plan ahead. Can take turns. May pick up things that do not belong to them. May tell tall tales

Five Year Olds:Comparing Four and Five year olds in different areas of child Development

Physical Handles sled and tricycle well. Hops, skips, climbs, slides and swings. Handles most dressing. Can stand on one foot. Can walk a straight line without stepping off. Attempts all kinds of physical feats. Learns to throw, kick, and catch a ball. Holds pencil like an adult. Dances. Permanent teeth coming in.

Intellectual 2200 words in vocabulary. Can give name, age, address and birthday. Can sort size, color and shape. Talks plainly. Recognizes some numbers and letters. Great imagination. May start to collect things. Enjoys jokes, rhymes, riddles and nonsense songs.

Emotional Learning what is right to do and say. Tends to be reliable, stable and well adjusted. Proud of possessions. Can usually tell between true and false. Still have some fears. Wants to be treated like an adult. Can accept fair punishment. Impulsive behaviour at times.

Social Is a tattletale. Needs adult supervision. Sometimes hits and pushes. Wants to please adults. Like to make friends. Can give, receive and share. Learns 'fair play'. Sense of humour. Role-playing. Prefers other children. Becomes competitive.

Research Skills 2: Analyzing reading

After reviewing the information in the readings, state two of the most surprising developments you feel takes place in the:

a. Four-year old b. Five-year old

Research Skills 3: ObservationWhat skills are most developed in the preschool room at the FDC?

Create a survey for our class to takeEach member should generate 2

questions based on the readingCompile your survey questionsGather Data Explain your findings.

Positive Development of Children

Now that you understand more about the four areas of child development, parents and caregivers must ensure development continues in a positive manner.

Preschoolers are learning so much that they need help to understand their behaviours.

Understand that preschoolers learn by what they see and hear, therefore, caregivers and parents must be good role models.

Research Skills 4: Positive vs. Negative Development

How would you as a parent/caregiver help to shape a child's positive development in the following situations? 1. A five-year-old is trying to tie his shoelaces. He

gets so frustrated, he begins to cry. 2. A four-year-old hits her one-year-old sister and

takes her toys. 3. A five-year-old has been waking up in the middle

of the night for the past week, afraid there is a monster in the closet.

4. A four-year-old has been calling his neighbour bad names and making up stories about him.

Research Skill 5: From Negative to Positive Feedback

Record 5 negative statements you have heard parents use with their preschooler.

Beside each statement, write the same message stated in a positive way.

Example: Negative Statement Rewritten as a Positive Statement

a. John, why can’t you make this kite fly? Are you a baby?b. John, flying a kite is tough, but if you practice you’ll be

able to do it without help like the older kids.

Explain why it is important to frame statements are POSITIVE?

Research Skill 6 : Changing negative statements to positive

statements Some people may argue that television could affect a child’s

social, intellectual and emotional development. What is your opinion? Explain using examples from shows you have seen.

Add the url to your notes then view two (2) children's television programs:

1. one educational (Sesame Street) 2. one entertainment (Bugs Bunny)

Record your opinion about how each of these shows could make a positive impact on the development of children and how these shows could make a negative impact on a child's development.

Research Skill 7: Formulating conclusions

Developmentally appropriate toys:

Visit a local toy store on-line (ex: Toys R Us)Find an example of a toy sited for a

preschooler (aged 3 years) . As a class review the toys chosen and vote

for the most appropriateWhile voting –based on developmental

reasons, you must explain your choice