UNIT 3 Early Childhood (The Preschooler) sudden movements without falling down.

Preschoolers on the other hand, have their center of

MODULE 15 Preschoolers’ Physical gravity at a lower level, right about near the belly
Development button. This gives them more ability to be stable and
balanced than the toddler. The preschooler moves
INTRODUCTION
from the unsteady stance of toddlerhood to a more-
The preschooler years is commonly known as sandy bearing. They no longer "toddle," that wobbly
“the years before formal schooling begins.” It roughly way that toddlers walk. This also allows the
covers 3-5 years of age. Although it is known as the preschooler to move more "successfully" than the
years before formal school, it is by no way less toddler. Some say that the later part of the
important than the grade school years. The preschool preschooler years at around 5 or 6 is the best time to
years is very important as it lays foundation to later begin learning skills that require balance like riding a
development. Al this stage, preschoolers achieve bike or skating.
many developmental milestones. As such, pre-service
By the time the child reaches 3 years old, all
teachers who might be interested to teach and care
primary deciduous, time the child reaches three
for preschoolers need to be knowledgeable about
years old, all or what are also called "baby primary or
them to be truly an intentional and effective teacher.
milk" teeth are already in place. The permanent teeth
This Module on the physical development of which will begin to come out by age six are also
preschoolers focuses on the acquisition of gross and developing. The preschooler years are therefore a
fine motor skills, artistic expression, proper nutrition time to instill habits of good dental hygiene.
and sleep, and what teachers and caregivers should
Gross and Fine Motor Development
do to maximize the pre-schoolers development.
Gross motor development refers to
ABSTRACTION/GENERALIZATION
acquiring skills that involve the large muscles. These
From the activity, you were able to see a gross motor skills are categorized into three:
glimpse of preschoolers' development. The love to locomotor, non-locomotor and manipulative skills.
move. They enjoy being active. They physical Locomotor skills are those that involve going from
deerested to work with their fingers, like with blocks. one place to another, like walking. running, climbing,
They have more balanced stance than toddlers. Read skipping, hopping, creeping, galloping, and dodging.
on and you will learn more about the typical physical Non-locomotor ones are those where the child stays
development of preschoolers, the importan concerns in place, like bending, stretching, turning and
and issues, and how teachers and caregivers can swaying. Manipulative skills are those that involve
help maximize the preschoolers' growth and projecting and receiving objects, like throwing,
development. striking, bouncing, catching and dribbling.

Big Ideas about the Physical Development of Preschoolers are generally physically active.
Preschoolers Level of activity is highest around three and becomes
a little less as the preschooler gets older.
1. There are significant changes in physical growth of Preschoolers should be provided with a variety of
preschoolers. appropriate activities which will allow them to use
their large muscles. Regular physical activity helps
2. The preschoolers' physical development is marked preschoolers build and maintain healthy bones,
by the acquisition of gross and fine motor skills. muscles, and joints, control weight and build lean
muscles, prevent or delay hypertension, reduce
3. Preschoolers can express themselves artistically at feelings of depression and anxiety and increase
a very early age. capacity for learning.
4. Proper nutrition and the right amount of sleep are Fine motor development refers to
very important acquiring the ability to use the smaller muscles in the
for the preschoolers. arm, hands and fingers purposefully. Some of the
skills included here are picking, squeezing, pounding,
5. Caregivers and teachers can do a lot in maximizing and opening things, holding and using a writing
the growth and development of preschoolers. implement. It also involves self-help skills like using
the spoon and fork when eating, buttoning, zipping,
6. Preschoolers with special needs in inclusive combing and brushing
classrooms can thrive well with the appropriate
adaptations made in the classroom, materials and Different environments provide different
activities. experiences with fine motor skills. For example, the
availability of information and communications
Significant Changes in Physical Growth technology in largely urban areas makes younger and
younger children proficient in keyboarding and
Physical growth increases in the preschool manipulation of the mouse and the use of smart
years, although it is much slower in pace than in phones and tablets. While other children use their
infancy and toddlerhood. At around 3 years of age, fine motor skills in digging in soil, making toys out of
preschoolers move, from the remaining baby-like none and bottle caps. Still others, enjoy clay, play
features of the toddler, toward a more slender dough, and
appearance of a child. The trunk, arms and legs
become longer. By the end of the preschool years most
children manage to hold a pencil with their thumb
The center of gravity refers to the point at and fingers, draw pictures, write letters, use scissors,
which body-weight is evenly distributed. Toddlers do stringing and threading activities. They can also
have their center of gravity at a high level, about the do skills like eating and dressing up independently.
chest level. This is why they have difficulty doing
Significant progress in skills lotor skills can be both have their negative effects. Here in our country,
expected of preschoolers especially if they are aptly we can see the extreme of preschoolers not having
supported and appropriate activities are provided for enough food and those on the other end of the
them. extreme where we find preschoolers who are not just
over weight but obese. The celebration of the
Handedness, or the preference of the use of Nutrition month every July is aimed at advocating for
one hand over the other is usually established around proper nutrition. Each year a theme is put forth to
4 years of age. Earlier than this, preschooler can be advocate good nutritional habits while government
observed to do tasks using their hands programs on giving out fortified bread, milk and even
interchangeably. We can observe a preschooler noodles aim to address' malnutrition among children.
shifting the crayon from left to right and back again
while working on a coloring activity. 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
Preschoolers' Artistic Development place. During sleep, especially in the dream state
(rapid eye movement stage), growth hormones are
At the heart of the preschooler years is their released. Blood supply to the muscles are likewise
interest to draw and make other forms of artistic increased helping preschoolers regain energy. At this
expressions. This form of fine motor activity is state while dreaming, increased brain activity is also
relevant to preschoolers. Viktor Lowenfeld studied attained.
this and came up with the stages of drawing in early
childhood: A Quick Look at What Preschoolers Can Do:
(physical skills) This bulleted list of preschoolers'
Stage 1. Scribbling stage. This stage physical skills is lifted from the Physical Domain
begins with large zig-zag lines which later become component of the Philippine Early Learning and
circular markings. Soon, discrete shapes are drawn. Development Standards (ELDS). This set of standards
The child may start to name his/her drawing towards was based on a study commissioned by UNICEF and
the end of this stage. the Child Welfare Council (CWC). This is now adopted
for use by the Early Childhood Care and Development
Stage 2. Preschematic stage. May already Council.
include early representations (This also becomes very
significant when we discuss about cognitive Gross Motor: 36-48 months
development). At this point adults may be able to
recognize the drawings. Children at this stage tend to  Hops 1 to 3 steps on preferred foot
give the same names to their drawings several times.  Skips (with alternating feet)
Drawings usually comprise of a prominent head with  Jumps and turns
basic elements. Later, arms, legs, hands and even  Stands on one leg without falling for at least
facial features are included. 5 seconds
 Throws a ball overhead with control of
Stage 3. Schematic stage. More elaborate direction
scenes are depicted. Children usually draw from  Throws a ball overhead with control of speed
experience and exposure. Drawings may include  Kicks a ball with control of speed
houses, trees, the sun and sky and people. Initially,
they may appear floating in air but eventually Fine-motor Skills:
drawings appear to follow a ground line.
36-48 Months
Everyone who observes a preschooler go
 Consistently turns pages of a picture or story
through these stages of drawing would surely say
book one page at a time, looking at pictures
one thing: that the preschooler drew the same
with interest
drawing maybe a hundred times! Repetition is the
 Purposefully copies diagonal lines
hallmark of early drawing. One wonders if the supply
 Purposefully bisects a cross
of scratch papers, crayons and pens will ever be
 Purposefully copies a square
enough. Adults should remember to have a neat
 Purposefully copies a triangle
supply of these or they will find the preschoolers'
 Cuts with scissors following a line
drawings on the furniture and fine mobis affords the
preschooler opportunities to gain mastery of the 49-60 months
motors skills involved.
 Copies a simple pattern of different basic
Also important to remember is that the shapes
preschoolers' representations or drawings does not  Draws a human figure (head, eyes, mouth,
only involve fine motor skills, but also cognitive skills. trunk; arms, legs, etc.) without prompts
Children's drawings allow us to have a glimpse of  Draws a house without prompts using
how they understand themselves and the world geometric forms
around them.  Colors with strokes staying within the lines
Preschoolers' Nutrition and Sleep Personal Care and Hygiene (Self-Help Skills)
The kind of nutrition a preschooler gets has 36-48 months
far-reaching effect on his physical growth and
development. The preschooler's nutritional status is  Pours from pitcher without spillage
the result of what nutrients he or she actually takes  Feeds self using spoon without spillage
in checked against the nutritional requirement for
his/her age. Obviously, having too much or too little
  Dresses without assistance except for Encourage children to experiment with new
buttons and tying laces Puts on socks media like wire and cork, soda straws, string,
independently or yarn. Teach children to mix different colors
with paint.
49-60 months
For four-year-olds
 Feeds self-using fingers without spillage
 Prepares own food l) Encourage physical development. Play follow
 Dresses without assistance, including the leader. Pretend to walk like various
buttoning and tying animals.
 Wipes/cleans him/herself after a bowel m) Set up an obstacle course indoors with
movement challenges such as crawling, climbing,
 Brushes teeth after meals without having to leaping, balancing, and running across
be told stepping stones.
 Washes and dries face independently without n) Encourage walking with a beanbag on the
having to be told head.
 Takes a bath independently without having to
be told For five-year-olds

The Role of Caregivers in the Growth and o) Encourage body coordination and sense of
Development of the Preschooler balance by playing "Follow the Leader" with
skipping, galloping, and hopping. Skip or
Optimum physical development of jump rope to music, teach folk dances and
preschoolers is largely influenced by the supportive games, provide balance beam, a tree for
caregivers (parents and teachers) who provide a climbing, and a knotted rope suspended from
Simulating environment and appropriate activities for a sturdy frame.
the children. If you have friends and relatives who are p) each sack-walking and twist-em, for freeze"
responsible for preschoolers, read and share the games to provide an outlet for their drive for
following tips: (This collection includes those physical activity.
suggested by Lesia Oesterreich, M.S., Family Life q) Play games that can teach right and left
Extension Specialist, Human Development and Family directions, like "Hokey. Pokey," "Looby-Loo,"
Studies, Iowa State University) and "Simon Says."
r) Help children learn to use a pair of scissors
by letting them cut out coupons.
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 is, 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.

For three-year-olds

g) Encourage development of hand-eye

coordination by providing large buttons or old
beads to string on a shoe lace.
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-olds 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.