1. Preschool Physical Development 3 & 4 year olds
Gross Motor Skills
Fine Motor Skills
Self Help Skills

2. General Facts Growth slows down Posture is upright
Average height –38 inches
Average weight –32 pounds

3. Gross Motor- 3 years
Use of the large muscles
Arms
Legs
Back

4. Walking-sequential skill
-Hold up head
-Roll over
-Sit up
-Crawl
-Stand holding on
-Stand alone
-Walk

5. Climbing Stairs - sequential
Ascending 2 Feet / Stair
Belly or butt slide down, feet first
Descending2 Feet /Stair
Alternate feet Ascending
Alternate feet descending

6. Throwing a Ball Underhand – small ball goes straight up
Overhand – small ball goes straight down
Best to use a large soft ball

7. Two arms pull to chest Large ball or bean bag suggested
Catching a Ball
Two arms pull to chest
Large ball or bean bag suggested

8. Kicking a ball
Ball should be stationary
Rolled ball goes under leg

9. Balance On beam-walk heel to toe or sideways Balance one foot-8 sec.
Hopping-one foot-3 consecutive hops, then stop for balance
Jumping-2 feet, can go forever

10. Pedaling
Big Wheels are recommended

11. Fine Motor Skills
Use of the small muscles
Fingers, toes

12. Drawing- sequential skill
From shoulder, fist grip
From elbow, fist grip
From wrist, finger grip
From fingers, correct grip
Simple shapes,
Trace more complex shapes

13. Drawing a Face
Features are positioned but not proportioned

14. Drawing a figure
Body has three parts

15. Cutting –sequential skill
Can cut paper in half
Cannot cut on a line

16. Self Help Skills
Toilet training
Eating
Dressing
Bathing
Grooming

17. Toilet Training
Bowels First

18. Eating Spoons-fist grip used Fork-stabbing motion Knife-spread
Cup- 2 hands
Capable of clearing their place

19. Dressing Give choices, not total freedom
Clothing backwards, inside-out, not matched, lopsided
Fasteners-one piece zippers, large buttons and snaps, unbuckle
Shoes on wrong feet
Cannot tie, need velcro

20. Bathing
Capable, but never leave alone

21. Grooming
Able to brush teeth and comb hair, but need parental help