1. Parenting & Child Development
6.01 Understand the physical, emotional, and social development and care of children ages three through six.

2. Emotional characteristics of 3 year-olds
Learning: cooperation and consideration
Less frustrated
More willing to take directions from others
Loves praise and acceptance
Loves to talk
Can be reasoned with and
controlled by words

3. Emotional characteristics of 4 year-olds
Self-centered
Can be defiant, impatient, loud, and bossy with other children and adults
Other times very loving and affectionate, because they need and seek approval
Wants to see himself/herself as separate from parents
Vocabulary and language skills show great improvement over toddlers
Test out the sound of words
Active imagination leads to fears

4. Emotional characteristics of 5 year-olds
Views himself/herself as a whole person
Eager to explore but may be fearful of unfamiliar people, places, experiences
Emotionally impulsive
Strangeness is a fear when they go to kindergarten---strange people and place
Empathy for others

5. Emotional characteristics of 6 year-olds
Period of emotional turmoil
Crave praise and approval
Often stubborn and quarrelsome
At their worst with their own parents
Resent being given directions
Experience rapid mood changes
Can enjoy music or dance
lessons and organized sports

6. Social characteristics of 3 year-old children
People are important
Begin to engage in cooperative play
Work in small groups
Parents are not all-powerful in the child’s social life
Seek friends on their own
Prefer some children over others

7. Social characteristics of 4 year-old children
Form friendships
Cooperative play: Groups of 3-4
Sharing toys and taking turns
Bossy and inconsiderate
Family is still more important than friends
Constantly seek approval
Parents still important for
comfort.

8. Social characteristics of 5 year-old children
Outgoing and talkative
Play is complex; groups of five or six
Fights break out less
Quarreling results in name-calling and wild threats
Develop more respect for others’ belongings
Social acceptance from peers
Do not want to be thought different;
they fear ridicule

9. Social characteristics of 6 year-old children
Social relations: friction, threats and stubbornness
Want everything, and want to do things their way
Same sex friends more important
Enjoy group and organized teams
Tired of playing? simply drop out of a game
Have no regard for team effort