Nutrition in

Preschoolers/School children
ETHEL MAY FAIGAO-ONAS, RND

1
 Preschool School Children
Subgroups of the preschool age - From 6 to 12 years
Young infants (0-6 months) - Older
infants (6-12 months) - Younger
preschool children (12-36 months) -
Older preschool children (36-60
months) •
Categorization corresponds to the Also called the latent time of growth
progressive transition in the type of
food of children

Characterized by steady, slow growth Characterized by slowing down of the

rate rate of growth and body changes occur
gradually

2 Growth rate of children slows down

following the first year, thus, energy
 Growth and development

3
 Growth and development
• Weight and height
• Body proportions
• Body composition
• Brain
• Perceptual development
• Other systems

4
 Weight and height
Preschool
Weight gain approximates 4 to 6 lb. (1.8 to
2.7 kg) per year
Length increases approximately 3 inches
(7.6 cm) per year between one year and
seven to eight years of age, then increases 2
inches (5.1 cm) per year until the pubertal
growth spurt.
At age 6, boys are taller and heavier than
girls
5 Male growth spurt begins between 12 and
Schoolchildren
Approximately 2 to 2 ½ in height and 3 – 6
lbs in weight are added each year
Male and female size are comparable until
age 9-10 when girls begin to grow rapidly
Increase in foot is an initial indication of
onset of growth spurt
Adult height can be predicted from height
during school years
By age 9, the height of the average female
is the same as that of the 9year-old male,
and her weight is slightly more
16 years
 Growth and development
• Weight and height
• Body proportions
• Body composition
• Brain
• Perceptual development
• Other systems

6
 Body proportions
Preschool Schoolage
Growth is concentrated in legs and Leg growth accounts for 66% of height
trunk, thus creating a taller and more increases until adolescence
slender look Face takes a more adult proportions
Permanent teeth except for 2nd and 3rd
molars set in by age 11 or 12;
accompanied by great susceptibility to
cavities during these years

7
 Growth and development
• Weight and height
• Body proportions
• Body composition
• Brain
• Perceptual development
• Other systems

8
 Body composition
Preschool
Changes in fats, muscles, and bone
occur • Body fat decreases • Slow
muscle growth • More muscles and
bone among boys, and more fat among
girls
9
Schoolage
Muscle and fat
-Boys have more muscle tissues
than girls
-Both males and females double
their strength during this time
 Body composition
• Skeleton
-Bone growth is concentrated in legs,
arms and face
-Ossification is still in progress

10
 Growth and development
• Weight and height
• Body proportions
• Body composition
• Brain
• Perceptual development
• Other systems

11
 Brain
Preschool Schoolage
Brain growth is 75% complete by the Growth of the brain and head slow
end of the second year; by 6 to 10 years down
of age, brain growth is complete. This Brain growth is essentially complete by
results in a decrease in head size in age 10 or 12
relation to body size.
Bone growth results in increased
structure. Bone is an active tissue and
is constantly being remodeled by the
destruction and renewal of collagen and
the addition and loss of mineral.

12
 Growth and development
• Weight and height
• Body proportions
• Body composition
• Brain
• Perceptual development
• Other systems

13
 Perceptual development
Preschool Schoolage
By age 6, binocular vision is established Vision
-Normal 20/20 vision between
ages 9 and 11

14
 Other systems
Preschool
Larger bladder, thus more time can
pass between trips to bathroom and
allow sound sleeping patterns
One-half adult stomach capacity
15
School age
Gastro-intestinal system matures, thus,
experiences fewer stomach upset and
greater stomach capacity
Bowel and bladder control is well
established; capacity of the bladder is
greater in girls than in boys
Lung continue to grow
Others
• They continue to gain in maturation of
fine and gross motor skills and
demonstrate significant gains in cognitive,
social and emotional skills

• Enhanced mental capabilities (learn the

basic skills of reading, writing and
arithmetic)
Others
• Many food habits, likes and dislikes are
established and form the basis for a
lifetime of food and nutrient intake

• Food choices are significantly and

increasingly affected by peers and
influences other than the family
Others
• Better motor coordination and opportunities for
physical activity need to be available and
supported by the community since this is a
critical period for developing activity patterns
that are maintained

• School entrance provides an opportunity to

identify children whose growth parameters
indicate nutrition concerns, such as growth
failure, obesity and underweight;