preschool

• Preschool-age period


  Lasts between 3 and 6 years of age
• Preschool-age period


  • Slow physical growth
  • Remarkable cognitive, language and psychosocial development compared to earlier stages
• Preschool-age children are naturally inquisitive and start to explore and interact with the world around them
• Developmental psychologists involved in studying development during the preschool period


  • Jean Piaget
  • Erik Erikson
  • Lawrence Kohlberg
• Growth


  Physical changes in height, weight, and the appearance of the body
• Development


  Acquisition of complex motor, cognitive, psychosocial, and moral skills
• Growth of preschool-age children

  • Gain an average of 6.5 to 7.5 cm each year
  • Expected increase of 2.25 kg per year in weight
  • Average 5-year-old is about 110 cm tall and weighs about 18 kg
• Other growth features of preschool-age children

  • Slight increase in the length of the skull, with the lower jaw becoming more pronounced
  • Upper jaw widens to make space for the emergence of permanent teeth, which usually start to appear at around 6 years of age
• Motor development of preschoolers

  1. Improve motor skills

  2. Hold a good posture and tie their shoelaces

  3. Coordination, balance, and rhythm improve

  4. Able to hop, skip, run smoothly, and participate in a variety of sports
• Preoperational stage (Piaget)


  Preschoolers tend to use symbols to represent words and ideas, engage in symbolic or pretend play, and develop magical thinking
• Cognitive development of preschoolers

  • Easily switch between fantasy and reality
  • Attribute life-like characteristics to inanimate objects (animism)
  • Become interested in different toys such as puzzles, and display expressive creation skills with paints, paper, and crayons
  • Become much more cooperative and engage in associative play with other preschoolers
• Cognitive skills of preschoolers

  • Can count up to 10 or even more objects
  • Can correctly name at least four colors
  • Know about things that are used in everyday life, such as home appliances, food, and money
  • Develop a vocabulary of about 2100 words and be able to form a 6 word sentence by 6 years of age
• Initiative vs guilt (Erikson)


  Preschoolers begin to take initiative by planning activities and developing new skills, which can give them a sense of accomplishment. If they are unable to accomplish these tasks or are discouraged, they may develop a sense of guilt.
• Preconventional level of morality (Kohlberg)


  Preschoolers continue to develop a sense of right and wrong, adopt moral standards from parents or other adults, and tend to adhere to those standards and behave obediently to gain rewards or avoid punishment
• Moral development of preschoolers


  • Start to learn how to deal with anger, and problems like fighting with others, and lying
• Nervous system development in preschoolers

  1. Improved coordination, such as being able to balance on one foot and climb and descend stairs efficiently

  2. Better bowel and bladder control, usually at 3 years of age
• Respiratory system development in preschoolers

  1. Number of alveoli increases

  2. Respiratory rate decreases to about 16 to 22 breaths per minute

  3. Eustachian tube remains short, increasing the risk for otitis media
• Cardiovascular system changes in preschoolers

  1. Increase in blood pressure and a decrease in heart rate

  2. Can present with an innocent murmur on auscultation
• Gastrointestinal system changes in preschoolers

  1. About 20 deciduous teeth by the beginning of the preschool period

  2. Small bowel length continues to increase, resulting in a decrease in stool frequency
• Balanced diet for preschoolers

  Vegetables and fruits to make up over half of the plate, grains and proteins to occupy the other half with grains taking a slightly larger portion, and dairy products like milk or yogurt
• Major supplements may also be important for preschoolers, such as Iron-fortified cereals, vitamin D and C fortified juice, and fluoride for teeth reinforcement if the water is not fluoridated
• Genitourinary system changes in preschoolers

  1. Urethra remains short, increasing the risk of urinary tract infections

  2. Achieve adequate daytime bladder control by 5 years of age, but may experience occasional bedwetting at night
• Musculoskeletal system changes in preschoolers

  1. Bones keep growing in length and the muscles become much stronger

  2. Haven't yet reached full musculoskeletal maturity and thus may experience frequent physical injury
• Immune and hematologic system changes in preschoolers

  1. Hemoglobin levels generally remain around 12 mg/dl

  2. White cell count reduces to about 5000 to 15000 per microliter
• Preschoolers should receive several vaccines to help reinforce their immune system, including DTaP, IPV, MMR, Varicella, and yearly influenza shot
• Car safety for preschoolers

  Secured in a rear-facing car seat until they reach the maximum height and weight, then switched to a forward-facing car seat, and eventually a booster seat
• Home safety checklist for preschoolers

  1. Avoid electrical outlets and cords

  2. Secure medications and household chemicals

  3. Store guns and ammunition in a secure, locked box

  4. Ensure water heater is set to 120 F or 49 C or lower to prevent scalding

  5. Never leave preschooler unattended near water

  6. Ensure preschooler knows to stay away from the street unless a caregiver is present, and to wear a helmet when using a wheeled toy

  7. Ensure preschooler knows how to call emergency services, what to do if a fire occurs, and their full name, address, and caregiver's name and phone number
• Nutrition for preschoolers


  1. Offer 3 meals and 2 healthy snacks daily, including nutrient-rich foods like fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and dairy products

  2. Limit fruit juice, soda, and foods high in sugar and saturated fat

  3. Allow preschooler to have choices of healthy foods and avoid pressuring them to clean their plate

  4. Offer meals at the same time each day and minimize distractions by keeping the television off during mealtimes
• Ensure preschooler is up to date on their vaccinations