Module 11 Preschoolers Physical Development

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Some of the key takeaways from the passage include the importance of physical development during the preschool years, the acquisition of gross and fine motor skills, the role of nutrition and sleep, and ways teachers can support development.

During the preschool years, children grow taller and their center of gravity lowers, allowing for better balance and coordination. They also transition from a 'toddling' gait to steadier walking.

Gross motor skills are divided into locomotor skills (walking, running, jumping), non-locomotor skills (bending, stretching), and manipulative skills (throwing, catching).

MODULE 11 – PRESCHOOLER’S PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT

Module 11 – Preschoolers’ Physical Development

“A child reminds us that playtime is an essential part of our


daily routine”.
- Anonymous

LEARNING OUTCOMES
At the end of this Module, you should be able to:

 identify preschool children's physical growth, identify the different gross and fine
motor skills.
 draw implications of these concepts of physical development in teaching
preschoolers.

INTRODUCTION
The preschooler years is commonly known as "the years before formal schooling begins."
It roughly covers 3-5 years of age. Although it is known as the years before formal school, it is
by no way less important than the grade school years. The preschool years is very important as it
lays foundation to later development. At this stage, preschoolers achieve many developmental
milestones. As such, pre-service teachers who might be interested to teach and care for
preschoolers need to be knowledgeable about them to be truly an intentional and effective
teacher.

This Module on the physical development of preschoolers focuses on the acquisition of


gross and fine motor skills, artistic expression, proper nutrition and sleep, and what teachers and
caregivers should do to maximize the preschoolers' development.

ABSTRACT
Preschoolers loves to move. They enjoy being active. They are also interested to work
with their fingers, like with blocks. They have a more balanced stance than toddlers. Read on and
MODULE 11 – PRESCHOOLER’S PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT

you will learn more about the typical physical development of preschoolers, the important
concerns and issues, and how teachers and caregivers can help maximize the preschoolers'
growth and development.

Big Ideas about the Physical Development of Preschoolers


1. There are significant changes in physical growth of preschoolers.

2. The preschoolers' physical development is marked by the acquisition of gross and fine
motor skills.

3. Preschoolers can express themselves artistically at a very early age.

4. Proper nutrition and the right amount of sleep are very important for the preschoolers.

5. Caregivers and teachers can do a lot in maximizing the growth and development of
preschoolers.

6. Preschoolers with special needs in inclusive classrooms can thrive well with the
appropriate adaptations made in the classroom, materials and activities.

Significant Changes in Physical Growth


Physical growth increases in the preschool years, although it is much slower in pace than
in infancy and toddlerhood. At around 3 years of age, preschoolers move, from the remaining
baby-like features of the toddler, toward a slenderer appearance of a child. The trunk, arms and
legs become longer.
The 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. This is why they have
difficulty doing sudden movements without falling down. Preschoolers on the other hand, have
their center of gravity at a lower level, right about near the belly button. This gives them more
ability to be stable and balanced than the toddler. The preschooler moves from the unsteady
stance of toddlerhood to a steadier bearing. They no longer "toddle", that wobbly way that
toddlers walk. This also allows the preschooler to move more "successfully" than the toddler.
Some say that the later part of the preschooler years at around 5 or 6 is the best time to begin
learning skills that require balance like riding a bike or skating.
By the time the child reaches three years old, all primary or deciduous, or what are also
called "baby or milk" teeth are already in place. The permanent teeth which will begin to come
MODULE 11 – PRESCHOOLER’S PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT

out by age six are also developing. The preschooler years are therefore a time to instill habits of
good dental hygiene.

Gross and Fine Motor Development


Gross motor development refers to acquiring skills that involve the large muscles. These
gross motor skills are categorized into three: locomotor, non-locomotor and manipulative skills.
Locomotor skills are those that involve going from one place to another, like
walking, running, climbing, skipping, hopping, creeping, galloping, and dodging.
Non-locomotor ones 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.
Preschoolers are generally physically active. Level of activity is highest around three and
becomes a little less as the preschooler gets older. Preschoolers should be provided with a variety
of appropriate activities which will allow them to use their large muscles. Regular physical
activity helps preschoolers build and maintain healthy bones, muscles, and joints, control weight
and build lean muscles, prevent or delay hypertension, reduce feelings of depression and anxiety
and increase capacity for learning.
Fine motor development refers to acquiring the ability to use the smaller muscles in the
arm, hands and fingers purposefully. Some of the skills included here are picking, squeezing,
pounding, and opening things, holding and using a writing implement. It also involves self-help
skills like using the spoon and fork when eating, buttoning, zipping, combing and brushing.
Different environments provide different experiences with fine motor skills. For example,
the availability of information and communications technology in largely urban areas makes
younger and younger children proficient in keyboarding and manipulation of the mouse or
gaming console like the Play Station Portable (PSP). While other children use their fine motor
skills in digging in soil, making toys out of sticks, cans and bottle caps. Still others, enjoy clay,
play. dough, and finger paint.
By the end of the preschool years most children manage to hold a pencil with their thumb
and fingers, draw pictures, write letters, use scissors, do stringing and threading activities. They
can also do self-help skills like eating and dressing up independently. Significant progress in fine
motor skills can be expected of preschoolers especially if they are aptly supported and
appropriate activities are provided for them.
Handedness, or the preference of the use of one hand over the other, is usually
established around 4 years of age. Earlier than this, preschoolers can be observed to do tasks
MODULE 11 – PRESCHOOLER’S PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT

using their hands interchangeably. We can observe a preschooler shifting the crayon from left to
right and back again while working on a coloring activity.

Preschoolers' Artistic Development


At the heart of the preschooler years is their interest to draw and make other forms of
artistic expressions. This form of fine motor activity is relevant to preschoolers. Viktor
Lowenfeld studied this and came up with the stages of drawing in early childhood:

Stages of Drawing
Scribbling stage. This stage begins with large
zig-zag lines which later become circular
Stage 1 markings. Soon, discrete shapes are drawn.
The child may start to name his/her drawing
towards the end of this stage.
Preschematic stage. May already include
early representations (This also becomes very
significant when we discuss about cognitive
development). At this point adults may be
able to recognize the drawings. Children at
this stage tend to give the same names to their
Stage 2 drawings several times. Drawings usually
comprise of a prominent head with basic
elements. Later, arms, legs, hands and even
facial features are included.
Schematic stage. More elaborate scenes are
depicted. Children usually draw from
experience and exposure. Drawings may
Stage 3 include houses, trees, the sun and sky and
people. Initially, they may appear floating in
air but eventually drawings appear to follow a
ground line.

Everyone who observes a preschooler go through these stages of drawing would surely
say one thing: that the preschooler drew the same drawing maybe a hundred times! Repetition is
the hallmark of early drawing. One wonders if the supply of scratch papers, crayons and pens
will ever be enough. Adults should remember to have a neat supply of these or they will find the
preschoolers' drawings on the furniture and walls! This affords the preschooler opportunities to
gain mastery of fine motor skills.
MODULE 11 – PRESCHOOLER’S PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT

Also, important to remember is that the preschoolers' representations or drawings does


not only involve fine motor skills, but also cognitive skills. Children's drawings allow us to have
a glimpse of how they understand themselves and the world around them.

Preschoolers' Nutrition and Sleep


The kind of nutrition a preschooler gets has far-reaching effect on his physical growth
and development. The preschooler's nutritional status is the result of what nutrients he or she
actually takes in checked against the nutritional requirement for his/her age. Obviously, having
too much or too little both have their negative effects. Here in our country, we can see the
extreme of preschoolers not having enough food and those on the other end of the extreme where
we find preschoolers who are not just over weight but obese. The celebration of the Nutrition
month every July is aimed at advocating for proper nutrition. Each year a theme is put forth to
advocate good nutritional habits while government programs on giving out fortified bread, milk
and even noodles aim to address malnutrition among children.
It is important for preschoolers to get sufficient amount of rest and sleep. Preschoolers
benefit from about 10-12 hours of sleep each day. It is when they are asleep that vital biological
processes that affect physical and cognitive development take place. During sleep, especially in
the dream state (rapid eye movement stage), growth hormones are released. Blood supply to the
muscles are likewise increased helping preschoolers regain energy. At this state while dreaming,
increased brain activity is also attained.

A Quick Look at What Preschoolers Can Do: (Physical skills)


This bulleted list of preschoolers' physical skills is lifted from the Physical Domain component
of the Philippine Early Learning and Development Standards (ELDS). This set of standards was
based on a study commissioned by UNICEF and the Child Welfare Council (CWC) This is now
adopted for use by the Early Childhood Care and Development Council.

 Hops 1 to 3 steps on preferred foot


 Skips (with alternating feet)
 Jumps and turns
Gross Motor: 36 – 48 months  Stands on one leg without falling for
at least 5 seconds
 Throws a ball overhead with control
of direction
 Throws a ball overhead with control
of speed
MODULE 11 – PRESCHOOLER’S PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT

 Kicks a ball with control of speed

 Consistently turns pages of a picture


or story book one page at a time,
looking at pictures with interest
Fine Motor: 36 – 48 months  Purposefully copies diagonal lines
 Purposefully bisects a cross
 Purposefully copies a square
 Purposefully copies a triangle
 Cuts with scissors following a line

 Copies a simple pattern of different


basic shapes
 Draws a human figure (head, eyes,
mouth, trunk, arms, legs, etc.) without
Fine Motor: 49 - 60 months prompts
 Draws a house without prompts using
geometric forms
 Colors with strokes staying within the
lines

 Pours from pitcher without spillage


 Feeds self-using spoon without
spillage
Personal Care and Hygiene  Dresses without assistance except for
(Self-Help Skills): buttons and tying laces
36 – 48 months  Puts on socks independently

 Feeds self-using fingers without


spillage
 Prepares own food
 Dresses without assistance, including
Personal Care and Hygiene buttoning and tying
(Self-Help Skills):  Wipes/cleans him/herself after a
bowel movement
49 - 60 months
MODULE 11 – PRESCHOOLER’S PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT

 Brushes teeth after meals without


having to be told
 Washes and dries face independently
without having to be told
 Takes a bath independently without
having to be told

The Role of Caregivers in the Growth and Development of the


Preschooler
Optimum physical development of preschoolers is largely influenced by the supportive
caregivers (parents and teachers) who provide a stimulating environment and appropriate
activities for the children. If you have friends and relatives who are responsible for preschoolers,
read and share the following tips: (This collection includes those suggested by Lesia Oesterreich,
M.S., Family Life Extension Specialist, Human Development and Family Studies, Iowa State
University)

For all preschoolers:


a. Engage preschool children in simple games that involve running and walking.

b. Provide them with toys for catching and throwing such as soft large balls and bean bags.

c. Have balancing activities for preschoolers. Use low balance beams and lines on the
classroom floor or playground. Montessori schools have blue or red lines on their
preschool classroom floors.

d. Allow opportunities for rough and tumble play like in a grassy area or soft mats. Keen
observation and monitoring are, of course expected to keep them safe from injury.

e. Ensure that preschoolers get enough rest and sleep. Setting a routine for bed time is ideal.

f. Model good eating habits to preschoolers. Encourage more fruits, vegetables, water and
fresh juices, rather than processed foods, sugary snacks and sodas.

3-year-olds
g. Encourage development of hand-eye coordination by providing large buttons or old
beads to string on a shoe lace.
MODULE 11 – PRESCHOOLER’S PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT

h. Play ball. Show children how to throw, catch, and kick balls of different sizes.

i. Show children how to hop like a rabbit, tiptoe like a bird, waddle like a duck, slither like
a snake, and run like a deer.

j. Encourage free expression in art projects. Avoid asking "what" children are drawing.
Three-year-old may not know or care, but simply enjoy the process of drawing.

k. Provide a variety of art experiences. Make play dough. Create collages from magazine
pictures, fabric, wallpaper, and newsprint. Encourage children to experiment with new
media like wire and cork, soda straws, string, or yarn. Teach children to mix different
colors with paint.

4-year-olds
l. Encourage physical development. Play follow the leader. Pretend to walk like various
animals.

m. Set up an obstacle course indoors with challenges such as crawling, climbing, leaping,
balancing, and running across stepping stones.

n. Encourage walking with a beanbag on the head.

5-year-olds
o. Encourage body coordination and sense of balance by playing "Follow the Leader" with
skipping, galloping, and hopping. Skip or jump rope to music, teach folk dances and
games, provide a balance beam, a tree for climbing, and a knotted rope suspended from a
sturdy frame.

p. Teach sack-walking and "twist-em,' "statue," or "freeze" games to provide an outlet for
their drive for physical activity.

q. Play games that can teach right and left directions, like "Hokey-Pokey," "Looby-Loo,"
and "Simon Says."

r. Help children learn to use a pair of scissors by letting them cut out coupons.

APPLICATION
MODULE 11 – PRESCHOOLER’S PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT

Examine the skills found in the physical domain of the ELDS. Identify the skills in a
particular sub age group and put an appropriate activity that can help develop each skill. You
may surf the net for suggested activities, interview preschool teachers or simply be creative
yourself!

Physical Domain Skill Proposed Activity

REFLECTION
As a future facilitator in learning, how can you apply these concepts of physical
development in teaching preschoolers?

http://leftnetwork.weebly.com/the-role-of-the-learner-facilitator.html

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