6.1 Physical Development

• The preschoolers’ physical development is marked by the acquisition of gross and fine motor skills.
• Preschoolers can express themselves artistically at a very early age.
• Physical growth increases in the preschool years, although it is much slower in pace than in infancy and toddlerhood.
• In physical development, the term 'center of gravity' refers to the point at which body-weight is evenly distributed.
• Toddlers have their center of gravity at a high level, about the chest level, making it difficult for them to do sudden movements without falling down.
• Preschoolers have their center of gravity at a lower level, right about the belly button, giving them more stability and balance than toddlers.
• Gross motor development refers to acquiring skills that involve the large muscles.
• Locomotor skills are those that involve going from one place to another like walking, running, climbing, skipping, hopping, creeping, galloping, and dodging.
• Non-locomotor skills are those where the child stays in place, like bending, stretching, turning, and swaying.
• Manipulative skills are those that involve projecting and receiving objects, like throwing, striking, bouncing, catching and dribbling.
• What are the three categories of Gross Motor Development?

  Locomotor, non-locomotor, and manipulative skills.
• Preschoolers' artistic development involves stages of drawing as studied by Viktor Lowenfeld: Scribbling stage, Preschematic stage, and Schematic stage.
• The Scribbling stage begins with large zig-zag lines which later become circular markings.
• Preschematic stage drawings may already include early representations, at this point adults may be able to recognize the drawings.
• The Schematic stage involves more elaborate scenes, children usually draw from experience and exposure, such drawings may include houses, trees, the sun and sky and people.
• What are the three stages of drawing in Preschoolers' artistic development as studied by Viktor Lowenfeld?

  Scribbling, Preschematic, Schematic Stages