Preschool (Part 1)

Physical Growth Individual Differences Average differences in height & weight between boys & girls begins to increase Boys start becoming taller Differences in economically deprived countries v. developed countries Better nutrition & health care Difference in U.S. between advantaged & disadvantaged children

Individual Differences

Average differences in height & weight between boys & girls begins to increase

Boys start becoming taller

Differences in economically deprived countries v. developed countries

Better nutrition & health care

Difference in U.S. between advantaged & disadvantaged children

Growth of the Brain Fastest Growing Part of the Body By age 5, the brain is 90% of adult size Increase in growth due to increase in the number of interconnections It allows for more complex communications between neurons Increase in the amount of myelin Increase in the size of the corpus callosum

Fastest Growing Part of the Body

By age 5, the brain is 90% of adult size

Increase in growth due to increase in the number of interconnections

It allows for more complex communications between neurons

Increase in the amount of myelin

Increase in the size of the corpus callosum

Brain Lateralization Each Hemisphere has Certain Functions Each hemisphere processes information slightly differently The left processes sequentially The right processes holistically

Each Hemisphere has Certain Functions

Each hemisphere processes information slightly differently

The left processes sequentially

The right processes holistically

Boy Brain / Girl Brain Male & Female Brains are Predisposed to Function Slightly Differently Girls & Boys Show Some Hemispheric Differences Gender & Cultural Relations to Brain Structure Some Cultures Process Information Related to Vocal Sounds Differently Increases in Myelin May Be Related to Growing Cognitive Capacities as well as Memory Improvements Boys & Girls have Differences in Lower Body Reflexes Boys & Girls Process Auditory Information Differently Boys show greater Specialization of Left Hemisphere Language Girls Language Capabilities is More Evenly Distributed Between Hemispheres Girls Language Development is Faster than Boys

Male & Female Brains are Predisposed to Function Slightly Differently

Girls & Boys Show Some Hemispheric Differences

Gender & Cultural Relations to Brain Structure

Some Cultures Process Information Related to Vocal Sounds Differently

Increases in Myelin May Be Related to Growing Cognitive Capacities as well as Memory Improvements

Boys & Girls have Differences in Lower Body Reflexes

Boys & Girls Process Auditory Information Differently

Boys show greater Specialization of Left Hemisphere Language

Girls Language Capabilities is More Evenly Distributed Between Hemispheres

Girls Language Development is Faster than Boys

Sensory Development Brain Development Brings Changes By preschool, a gradual shift in the way objects are viewed Can see parts instead of the whole Until 3 or 4 years, preschoolers focus on the insides of 2-D objects instead of the internal details By 4 or 5 they’re looking at the surrounding boundaries Auditory acuity improves

Brain Development Brings Changes

By preschool, a gradual shift in the way objects are viewed

Can see parts instead of the whole

Until 3 or 4 years, preschoolers focus on the insides of 2-D objects instead of the internal details

By 4 or 5 they’re looking at the surrounding boundaries

Auditory acuity improves

Sleep Problems in Sleep 20% - 30% have difficulty getting to sleep May wake up & call parents for comfort 10% - 50% have nightmares Repeated nightmares can cause anxiety even in the waking hours 1% - 5% have night terrors Waking in a state of panic with no nightmare Not easily comforted Can’t recall in the morning

Problems in Sleep

20% - 30% have difficulty getting to sleep

May wake up & call parents for comfort

10% - 50% have nightmares

Repeated nightmares can cause anxiety even in the waking hours

1% - 5% have night terrors

Waking in a state of panic with no nightmare

Not easily comforted

Can’t recall in the morning

Nutrition Eating the Right Foods Growth rate is slower than in infancy Need less food to maintain growth Encouraging the child to eat more than they seem to want can lead to obesity (more than 20% above average weight for height) Childhood obesity increased significantly since the mid-1980s

Eating the Right Foods

Growth rate is slower than in infancy

Need less food to maintain growth

Encouraging the child to eat more than they seem to want can lead to obesity (more than 20% above average weight for height)

Childhood obesity increased significantly since the mid-1980s

Minor Illnesses Preschooler’s Illnesses Average preschooler age 3 to 5 has 7 – 10 colds & other minor respiratory illnesses per year Build up an immunity to more severe illnesses Learns to cope with illnesses later Learn to understand others’ illnesses

Preschooler’s Illnesses

Average preschooler age 3 to 5 has 7 – 10 colds & other minor respiratory illnesses per year

Build up an immunity to more severe illnesses

Learns to cope with illnesses later

Learn to understand others’ illnesses

Major Illnesses Cancer & AIDS Cancer is most frequent major illness: Leukemia AIDS causes social problems due to avoidance Emotional Illnesses Increasing number of children are being treated with drugs: antidepressants & stimulants Possibly due to wanting a quick fix

Cancer & AIDS

Cancer is most frequent major illness: Leukemia

AIDS causes social problems due to avoidance

Emotional Illnesses

Increasing number of children are being treated with drugs: antidepressants & stimulants

Possibly due to wanting a quick fix

Injuries Accidents are the Greatest Risk Due to level of physical activity Boys are more active than girls & take more risks More accidents in poorer areas Lead Poisoning Tiny amounts of lead can be very harmful Linked to lower IQ, verbal & auditory problems, hyperactivity & distractibility

Accidents are the Greatest Risk

Due to level of physical activity

Boys are more active than girls & take more risks

More accidents in poorer areas

Lead Poisoning

Tiny amounts of lead can be very harmful

Linked to lower IQ, verbal & auditory problems, hyperactivity & distractibility

Child Abuse Physical Abuse 1800+ killed every year 140,000+ injured 3 million + are victims Characteristics Fussy, resistant to control, not readily adaptable to new situations The children have more headaches & stomachaches, bedwetting, anxiety, & have developmental delays

Physical Abuse

1800+ killed every year

140,000+ injured

3 million + are victims

Characteristics

Fussy, resistant to control, not readily adaptable to new situations

The children have more headaches & stomachaches, bedwetting, anxiety, & have developmental delays

Child Abuse Reasons Vague separation between permissible & impermissible forms of physical punishment Privacy of childcare in Western society Unrealistic expectations of the child’s abilities & failing to meet them Cycle of abuse hypothesis: Abused & neglected children become abusing adults Not always true Psychological Abuse Psychological maltreatment: When parents harm a child’s behavioral, cognitive, or physical functioning via overt behavior or neglect The consequences are low self-esteem, lying, misbehavior, underachievement, & criminal behavior Causes permanent changes in the brain: reduces the size of the amygdala & hippocampus; can lead to overexcitation of the limbic system leading to emotional regulation & memory problems

Reasons

Vague separation between permissible & impermissible forms of physical punishment

Privacy of childcare in Western society

Unrealistic expectations of the child’s abilities & failing to meet them

Cycle of abuse hypothesis: Abused & neglected children become abusing adults

Not always true

Psychological Abuse

Psychological maltreatment: When parents harm a child’s behavioral, cognitive, or physical functioning via overt behavior or neglect

The consequences are low self-esteem, lying, misbehavior, underachievement, & criminal behavior

Causes permanent changes in the brain: reduces the size of the amygdala & hippocampus; can lead to overexcitation of the limbic system leading to emotional regulation & memory problems

Overcoming the Odds Resilience The ability to overcome circumstances that place a child at high risk for psychological or physical damage Temperament: Affectionate, easy-going, & good natured, he or she elicits nurturance from others In older children they are socially pleasant, outgoing, independent, relatively intelligent, feel they shape their future, & have good communication skills

Resilience

The ability to overcome circumstances that place a child at high risk for psychological or physical damage

Temperament:

Affectionate, easy-going, & good natured, he or she elicits nurturance from others

In older children they are socially pleasant, outgoing, independent, relatively intelligent, feel they shape their future, & have good communication skills

Motor Development Gross Motor Skills Advances in gross motor skills related to brain development & myelination of neurons in areas related to balance & coordination Gender Differences Boys overall motor activity level higher than girls: jump higher & throw a ball better Girls better in coordination of arms & legs & balancing & coordinated exercises Fine Motor Skills Develop with gross motor skills but require practice

Gross Motor Skills

Advances in gross motor skills related to brain development & myelination of neurons in areas related to balance & coordination

Gender Differences

Boys overall motor activity level higher than girls: jump higher & throw a ball better

Girls better in coordination of arms & legs & balancing & coordinated exercises

Fine Motor Skills

Develop with gross motor skills but require practice

Toilet Training Readiness The flexible approach: Wait until the child shows signs of readiness Signs include: Staying dry for at least 2 hours or waking up dry after a nap; saying he or she has to go; the ability to follow simple directions; the ability to get to the bathroom & undress alone; discomfort with soiled diapers; asking to use the toilet or potty chair; the desire to wear underwear

Readiness

The flexible approach:

Wait until the child shows signs of readiness

Signs include:

Staying dry for at least 2 hours or waking up dry after a nap; saying he or she has to go; the ability to follow simple directions; the ability to get to the bathroom & undress alone; discomfort with soiled diapers; asking to use the toilet or potty chair; the desire to wear underwear

Handedness Preference by the End of Preschool By age 5 there’s a clear tendency to use one hand over the other Today children are not forced to use the right hand

Preference by the End of Preschool

By age 5 there’s a clear tendency to use one hand over the other

Today children are not forced to use the right hand

Art Art is Important in Developing Fine Motor Skills Children’s art proceeds through 3 stages: Scribbling Shape Pictoral

Art is Important in Developing Fine Motor Skills

Children’s art proceeds through 3 stages:

Scribbling

Shape

Pictoral