The Child and Adolescent

Learners

Apigo, Ma. Amalia A.

Reporter
Unit 3
Module 15
“A child reminds us that playtime
is an essential part of our daily
routine.” - anonymous

“Rest if you may

but don’t quit.” ☺
Learning Outcomes
- describe preschool children’s physical growth

- identify the different gross and fine motor skills

- draw implications of these concepts on physical
development on teaching preschoolers
 Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9
nig-ZPi_1I
Introduction

- Preschooler years is commonly known as “the years

before formal schooling begins.” Covers 3-5 years of age.
- Known as the nursery school, pre-primary school,
or play school
- The preschool years is very important as it lays
foundation to later development.
Big Ideas about the Physical Development of Preschoolers
1. Significant Changes in Physical Growth
➢ physical growth increases, but slower in pace than in infancy
and toddlerhood. Average yearly height increase is 2 ½ to 3
inches
➢ at around 3 years of age, preschoolers move, from the
remaining baby-like of the toddler, toward a more slender
appearance of a child.
➢ the trunk, arms and legs become longer and their center of
gravity at a lower level, right about near the belly button which
gives them more stable balance
1. Significant Changes in Physical Growth
➢ the later part of preschooler years is the best time to begin
learning skills that require balance like riding a bike or skating

➢ at three years old, all primary or deciduous, or what are also

called “ baby or milk” teeth are already in place. Permanent
teeth will begin to come out by age six
2. Gross and Fine Motor Development
❖ Gross Motor Development – refers to acquiring skills that
involve the large muscles. Categorized into three:

• Locomotor Skills
• Non-Locomotor Skills
• Manipulative Skills
• Locomotor Skills
➢ movements where the body travels through space from one
location to another.

Example:

Walking, Running, Climbing,

Skipping, Hopping, Creeping,
Galloping and Dodging
• Non-Locomotor Skills
➢ fundamental body movements that do not incorporate
travelling. They are stability skills that include movements
of limbs or body parts, and sometimes even the whole
body.
Example:

Bending, Stretching,
Shaking, Flexing, Lifting,
Extending
• Manipulative Skills
➢ skills that require an ability to handle an object or piece
of equipment with control

Example:

Kicking, striking,
dribbling or catching
a ball.
Importance of Gross Motor Development
➢ because physical development is tied to other developmental
areas
➢ 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
➢ preschoolers should be provided with a variety of appropriate
activities which will allow them to use their large muscles
❖ Fine Motor Development
➢ refers to acquiring the ability to use the smaller muscles
in the arm, hands and fingers purposefully.
➢ different environments provide different experiences with
fine motor skills

➢ progress in fine motor skills can be expected of preschoolers

especially if they are aptly supported and appropriate
activities are provided for them
➢ handedness usually established around 4 years of age
 A Quick Look at What Preschoolers Can Do

Gross Motor: 36-48 months

•Hops 1-3 steps on preferred foot
•Skips (with alternating feet)
•Stands on one leg without falling for at least 5 seconds
•Throws a ball overhead with control of direction
•Kicks a ball with control of speed
Fine Motor Skills: 36-48 months
•Consistently turns pages of a picture or story book one
page at a time, looking at pictures with interest
•Purposefully copies diagonal lines, square and triangle
•Cuts with scissors following a line

Fine Motor Skills: 49-60 months

•Copies a simple pattern of different basic shapes
•Draws a house or human figure (head, eyes, mouth,
trunk, arms, legs, etc.)
•Colors with stroke staying within the lines
Personal Care and Hygiene (Self-Help Skills) 36- 48 months
•Pours from pitcher without spillage
•Feeds self using spoon without spillage
•Dresses without assistance except, for buttons and tying laces
•Puts on socks independently

Personal Care and Hygiene (Self-Help Skills) 49-60 months

•Feeds self using fingers without spillage
•Prepares own food
•Takes a bath, brushes teeth, clean him/herself after bowel
movement without having to be told
3. Preschoolers’ Artistic Development

Stages of drawing in early childhood

1. Scribbling Stage
2. Preschematic Stage
3. Schematic Stage
1. Scribbling Stage
➢ move from uncontrolled to
progressively more controlled
➢ begins with zigzag lines which
later become circular markings
2. Preschematic Stage
➢ announced by the appearance
of circular images with lines which
comprise of a prominent head
with basic elements which seem
to suggest a human or animal
figure
3. Schematic Stage
➢ a concept linked to realism
➢ children usually draw from
experience and exposure
➢ drawings have a relationship
to what is up and what is down
➢ more proportional and more
detailed
4. Preschoolers Nutrition and Sleep
➢ the kind of nutrition a preschooler gets has far-reaching
effect on his physical growth and development
➢ nutritional status is the result of what nutrients he or she
actually takes in checked against the nutritional
requirement for his or her age
➢ nutrition can also help establish a foundation for healthy
eating habits and nutritional knowledge that a child can
apply throughout his life
➢ children aged 3-5 years need 10-13 hours of sleep a night
5. Role of Caregivers in the Growth and Development of
the Preschooler
➢ They provide the most intimate context for the
nurturing and protection of children as they develop their
personalities and identities and also as they mature
physically, cognitively, emotionally, and socially
For all Preschoolers:
•Engage preschool children in simple games that involve running
and walking
•Provide them with toys for catching and throwing such as soft
large balls and bean bags.
•Ensure that preschoolers get enough rest and sleep. Setting a
routine for bed time is ideal
•Allow opportunities for rough and tumble play like in a grass
area or soft mats. Keep observation and monitoring is, of course
expected to keep them safe from injury.
For Three-year-olds:
•Encourage development of hand-eye coordination by providing
large buttons or old beads to string on a shoe lace
•Play ball/ show children how to throw, catch and kick balls of
different sizes.
•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.
For Four-year-olds:
•Encourage physical development. Play follow the leader.
Pretend to walk like various animals.
•Set up an obstacle course indoors with challenges such as
crawling, climbing, leaping, balancing, and running across
stepping across.
•Encourage walking with a beanbag on the head.
For Five-year-olds:
•Teach sack-walking and “twist-em,” “statue,” or “freeze” games
to provide an outlet for their drive for physical activity.
•Play games that can teach right and left directions.
•Help children learn to use a pair of scissors by letting them cut
out options.
6. Preschoolers with special needs

•Offering alternative seating arrangements is a great way to support

children with disabilities.
•Rearranging the layout of the classroom, especially in regards to
classroom furniture.
•Reducing the noise level in the classroom
•Changing the amount of lighting or brightening or dimming lights.
•Play soft music or provide white noise throughout the day to help
with sensory stimulation.