PRESCHOOLER (3-6 YEARS)

PRESCHOOLER (3-6 YEARS)

-       characterized by the following behavior:

o    creative and curious- often ask why?

o    Love to watch and imitate others

o    Very imaginative

o    Begin to masturbate (exploration)

o    Energetic, enthusiastic, and intrusive learner

I.              Physical growth and development

a.     Weight

                                          i.    average weight gain is 5 lbs/yr

                                         ii.    average 4 year old weight is 37 lbs

b.    height

                                          i.    average growth gain is 2.5 to 3 inch/year

                                         ii.    average 4 year old height is 40.5 inches

II.             Dental health

a.     At age 3, 20 deciduous teeth should be in

b.    Enables to use a toothbrush properly, brush 2x a day

c.     Parents should supervise the child’s brushing

d.    The child should avoid cariogenic foods to help prevent dental caries

III.            Elimination

a.     Capable to independent toilet training by the end of the preschool period

b.    Some may still have accident: (1) forgot to flush the toilet, (2) wash their hands

IV.           Development

a.     Erickson

                                          i.    Initiative vs. Guilt

ü  Family is the most important person

ü  Conscience begins to develop

ü  Conflict: the child develops sense of guilt when parents make the child feel that his imagination and activities are unacceptable

ü  Child will display excessive guilt, passive, apathetic and feel victimized

ü  Anxiety and fear: results when the child’s thoughts and activities clash with parental expectation

b.    Freud

                                          i.    Phallic stage

1.     Genitals – site of satisfaction thru masturbation

2.     Oedipal complex – refers to the male child’s attachment to the parent of the opposite sex (mother)

3.     Electra complex – refers to the female child’s attachment to the parent of the opposite sex (father)

c.     Kohlberg

                                          i.    Pre-conventional stage

1.     child’s moral standards are those of others, and he observes them either to avoid punishment or gain rewards

d.    Piaget

                                          i.    Pre-operational thought period

1.     capable of simple classifying and relating things without awareness of the principle

2.     aware that something is right but cannot say WHY

3.     unable to understand others’ point of view

4.     say words without meaning

5.     begins to use simple reasoning and can tolerate longer period of delayed gratification

V.            Common Fears

a.     Fear of the dark

b.    Fear of being left alone, esp at bedtime

c.     Fear of animals, particularly large dogs

d.    Fear of ghosts

e.     Fear of body mutilation and castration

VI.           Play

a.     Cooperative

                                          i.    Loosely organized group play

                                         ii.    Increase sharing and cooperative among preschool

                                        iii.    Play is still physically oriented but also imitative and imaginary

VII.          Suggested Toys

a.     Puppets

b.    Dress-up clothes, dolls, house furniture, small trucks, animals

c.     Painting sets, coloring books, cut-out sets

d.    Illustrated books

e.     Puzzle with large pieces and more shapes

f.     Tricycle, swing, slide and other playground equipment