Growth & Development Week 8: Preschool Health

The preschool years, specifically 3-6 years of age, mark a significant transition in a child's development, characterized by social interactions, bodily control, language development, and the beginnings of formal learning.

Preschoolers develop the capacity to interact positively with others - both peers and adults. They learn to share, cooperate, and navigate social scenarios.

Preschoolers gain mastery over their bodily functions, including toilet training. This achievement marks a significant step towards independence.

During the preschool years, children learn to use language expressively and understand it more complexly, which sets the foundation for future learning.

Preschoolers transition from concrete thinking to mental representation through language, allowing them to understand concepts and symbols.

Preschoolers increase their attention span and retain information better, preparing them for formal schooling.

Physical growth slows, but children become more coordinated and refine their motor skills like walking, running, and jumping. Their bodies become more slender and erect.

Preschoolers start to understand their bodies and their appearance. This is a complex developmental step, involving self-perception and how they see themselves.

The average weight gain for a child between ages 3 and 5 is approximately 2-3 kilograms per year. This means that a 3-year-old typically weighs around 14.7 kg, a 4-year-old around 16.7 kg, and a 5-year-old around 18.7 kg.

The average height gain for a child between ages 3 and 5 is approximately 5-7.5 centimeters per year. A 3-year-old typically measures around 95 cm, a 4-year-old around 103 cm, and a 5-year-old around 110 cm.

Preschoolers have a normal body temperature range of 36.5 to 37.3 degrees Celsius.

The normal respiratory rate for preschoolers is between 16 and 22 breaths per minute.

The normal heart rate for preschoolers is between 70 and 115 beats per minute.

The normal blood pressure for preschoolers is approximately 100/55 mm Hg.

By the age of 3, a child can ride a tricycle, stand on one foot for a few seconds, climb stairs using alternating feet, and perform a broad jump.

By the age of 5, a child can skip, hop on alternating feet, jump rope and from a height of 30 cm, walk backward with heel-to-toe contact, and balance with eyes closed on alternating feet.

Children begin to use sentences with 3-4 words, often omitting less important words, like "I want juice" instead of "I want some juice."

A type of play where preschoolers engage in similar activities but with no organized rules, like building a block tower together but without a specific goal.

Preschoolers' ability to understand the meaning of words that describe physical beauty and its opposite, like "pretty," "ugly," and "handsome," and how these words are used to describe people.

The stage in Freud's theory of psychosexual development where children explore their own bodies and sexuality, through curiosity and play.

Erikson's psychosocial stage where children develop the ability to take initiative, begin planning, and learn from mistakes.

Comparing their own size to that of their peers, preschoolers develop an awareness of their own physical attributes.

Children are able to understand and use simple prepositional phrases like "under," "on top of," and "beside."

Preschoolers enjoy playing pretend scenarios and expressing imagination.

This conflict is a psychological struggle faced by children during the phallic stage. They may develop feelings of love for the parent of the opposite sex and hostility towards the parent of the same sex. This conflict is typically resolved by identifying with the same-sex parent.

This is the stage where children develop a sense of right and wrong based on external rules and expectations. They tend to obey rules to avoid punishment or gain approval.

This period of cognitive development is characterized by children's ability to use symbols, such as language, to represent objects and ideas. However, they still struggle with abstract thinking and logic.

This stage is characterized by the child's strong identification with the same-sex parent, leading to the development of their own gender identity. They internalize values and behaviors associated with their gender.

During this stage, children learn to control their impulses and behave according to societal expectations. They develop a sense of responsibility and follow rules to maintain social order.

Children's activities during the phallic stage involve exploring their bodies and learning about the differences between the sexes. This is a natural process and allows them to understand the world around them.

When a child's thoughts or actions differ from what is considered right or wrong, they might experience a sense of guilt or anxiety. This is because they are starting to understand social norms and expectations.

Preschoolers' thinking is still highly focused on themselves, making it hard for them to fully understand the perspectives of others. Their explanations often reflect their own limited viewpoints.

In this stage, children develop their ability to consider other viewpoints and social awareness, moving away from purely self-centered thinking. However, some egocentricity remains.

The preschool period is a time when children start preparing for formal schooling. This includes various aspects like language development, social skills, and understanding of basic concepts.

Preschoolers have difficulty understanding abstract concepts like time. They often learn about time based on events or specific experiences, rather than an objective clock.

Preschool children believe in a God with physical characteristics, often imagining a friend like figure. They follow simple religious stories, memorize prayers, and mimic their parents' religious practices without fully understanding their meaning.

Preschoolers demonstrate their understanding of right and wrong by behaving appropriately to avoid punishment. They feel guilt for wrong behavior. They often associate illness with punishment for a misdeed, imagined or real.

Children aged 2 to 4 demonstrate their understanding of good and bad based on whether an action leads to punishment or reward. If actions are unchecked, they are considered 'good' and repeated.

Children between 4 and 7 years old act in ways that benefit them. Their concept of 'fairness' revolves around reciprocity: 'you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours.' Loyalty and gratitude aren't considered.

Preschoolers benefit from concrete representation of religious practices, like picture books, videos and shows, as they make the concepts more tangible and easier for them to understand.

The development of a child's conscience is closely related to their spiritual development. In this stage, they learn right and wrong and strive to behave well to avoid punishment.

Observing and partaking in religious traditions alongside family members can help children and families manage stress, such as during illness or hospitalization.

Bad behavior triggers feelings of guilt in preschoolers. They often misinterpret illness as punishment for an action, whether real or imagined.