Discovering the Lifespan - Robert S. Feldman Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ All rights reserved. Chapter 3: The Preschool Years Module 3.1 Physical Development in the Preschool Years

Discovering the Lifespan - Robert S. Feldman Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ All rights reserved. PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE PRESCHOOL YEARS

Discovering the Lifespan - Robert S. Feldman Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ All rights reserved. Physical Growth Growing Body By age 2, 25 to 30 pounds and close to 36 inches tall By 6 years old, about 46 pounds and 46 inches tall 150

Discovering the Lifespan - Robert S. Feldman Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ All rights reserved. Individual Differences in Height and Weight Averages mask great individual differences in height and weight Gender differences National and global economic differences 150

Discovering the Lifespan - Robert S. Feldman Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ All rights reserved. Changes in Body Shape and Structure Bodies vary in height, weight, and shape Toddler fat burns off Internal physical changes occur 150

Discovering the Lifespan - Robert S. Feldman Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ All rights reserved. Nutrition: Eating the Right Foods Slower growth = less caloric requirements Children can maintain appropriate intake of food, if provided with nutritious meals Inappropriate encouragement to increase food intake beyond an appropriate level may cause obesity 151

Discovering the Lifespan - Robert S. Feldman Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ All rights reserved. Avoiding a Butter Battle Good nutrition without adversarial situations occur by: Providing a variety of foods, low in fat and high in nutritional and iron content Allowing development of natural preferences Exposing children to a wide variety of foods 151

Discovering the Lifespan - Robert S. Feldman Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ All rights reserved. Health and Illness 7 to 10 colds and other minor respiratory illnesses in each of years from age three to five –Runny nose due to common cold is most frequent Majority of US preschoolers are reasonably healthy 151

Discovering the Lifespan - Robert S. Feldman Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ All rights reserved. Injury During the Preschool Years Accidents are greatest risk Danger of injuries –High levels of physical activity –Curiosity –Lack of judgment Individual differences –Gender –Cultural –Socioeconomic 151

Discovering the Lifespan - Robert S. Feldman Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ All rights reserved. Range of Preschool Dangers Falls Burns Drowning Suffocation Auto accidents Poisons 151

Discovering the Lifespan - Robert S. Feldman Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ All rights reserved. Silent Danger: Lead Poisoning Some 14 million children are at risk for lead poisoning (Centers for Disease Control) U.S. DHHS calls lead poisoning most hazardous health threat to children under the age of 6 152

Discovering the Lifespan - Robert S. Feldman Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ All rights reserved. Effects of Lead Poisoning High levels of lead are linked to higher levels of antisocial behavior in school age children –Aggression –Delinquency 152

Discovering the Lifespan - Robert S. Feldman Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ All rights reserved. Growing Brain Grows at faster rate than any other part of the body –Increase in interconnections among cells and myelin –Corpus callosum becomes thicker –Lateralization improves 153

Discovering the Lifespan - Robert S. Feldman Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ All rights reserved. Left Hand, Right Hand PET scans illustrates activity in right or left hemisphere of brain differs according to task in which person is engaged How might educators use this finding in their approach to teaching? 154

Discovering the Lifespan - Robert S. Feldman Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ All rights reserved. Ya gotta hand it to him…or her! Gender-related lateralization differences Boys –Greater lateralization of language in left hemisphere –Higher autism incidence (Baron-Cohen’s theory) OR gender predisposition to functioning differences Girls –Language is more evenly divided between two hemispheres OR Verbal abilities emerge earlier in girls because girls receive greater encouragement for verbal skills than boys 154

Discovering the Lifespan - Robert S. Feldman Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ All rights reserved. So…does brain development produce cognitive advances or do cognitive accomplishments fuel brain development?

Discovering the Lifespan - Robert S. Feldman Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ All rights reserved. Motor Development 155

Discovering the Lifespan - Robert S. Feldman Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ All rights reserved. Potty Wars: Opposing Views Brazelton –Flexible approach advocating waiting until signs of readiness appear Rosemond –Rigid approach advocating quick and early training 156

Discovering the Lifespan - Robert S. Feldman Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ All rights reserved. American Academy of Pediatrics Current Guidelines Dry at least 2 hours during day or after nap Regular, predictable bowel movements Indications that bowel movement or urination is about to occur Ability to follow simple directions Ability to get to bathroom and undress on time Discomfort with soiled diapers Asking to use toilet Desire to wear underwear Begin only when children are ready 156

Discovering the Lifespan - Robert S. Feldman Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ All rights reserved. Fine Motor Skills Involve more delicate, smaller body movements Require much practice Show clear developmental pattern 156

Discovering the Lifespan - Robert S. Feldman Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ All rights reserved. Handedness Preference by end of preschool years No scientific basis of myths that suggest there is something with being left-handed 156

Discovering the Lifespan - Robert S. Feldman Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ All rights reserved. Becoming an Informed Consumer of Development Keeping Preschoolers Healthy: Eating well-balanced diet Exercising Getting enough sleep Avoiding contact ill others Appropriate schedule of immunizations 156

Discovering the Lifespan - Robert S. Feldman Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ All rights reserved. Review and Apply REVIEW Gross and fine motor development advances rapidly during the preschool years. Boys’ and girls’ gross motor skills begin to diverge, with boys typically doing better at tasks requiring strength and girls doing better at tasks requiring coordination. Also during this period, children develop handedness—a decided preference for one hand over the other. 157

Discovering the Lifespan - Robert S. Feldman Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ All rights reserved. Review and Apply APPLY To what extent do you think that gender differences in the development of gross motor skills are genetic versus environmental? If it could be shown that left-handers had a greater likelihood to be gifted than right- handers, would it make sense to train children to use their left hands for everyday tasks? Why? 157