The Pre-School Years

The Pre-School Years

Social Patterns &Types Of Play

Unoccupied Play- Not involved with any activity Observes what looks interesting but interest keep shifting. Solitary Play- playing alone with toys(Infant) Onlooker Play-Watching others play acts interested but not actively playing(Toddler)Parallel Play-Playing side by side but not playing together (ages 2 and 3)Associative Play- Children play together sharing toys and interact. No organization children all do what they want during play. Cooperative Play- Children play together with organization. Each kid had a task.

Types of Play • Dramatic Play- make believe and

imagination, acting and utilizing emotions and real situations.

• Active Play-interacting with kids and objects

• Passive Play-non interactive child just needs quiet time

• Manipulative- master or perfect skills like puzzles, building, coloring, or using tools.

• Sensory- using senses and motor skills

• Rough& Tumble- kids able to release energy and use emotions increase social and physical development

Social Development Age 4 Age 5 Age 6

Cooperative Play- take turns, imaginary, and games

Cooperative play &Independent

Cooperative play & Independent

Social Roles- decrease fear Understand right and wrong Accept routines

Like to make adults happy Don’t like adult criticism Challenge Rules

Fight/Tattle with Friends Less fighting with friends Friends of same gender

No sense of privacy Curious about body parts Like privacy

Strong sense of Family and Home

Proud of parents help out at home

Self Centered- rough and impatient

Learn difference of truth and lies

Start lying when in trouble Lie worry about punishment

Emotional

•Need help recognizing and expressing emotions

•Caregivers should accept this and help them understand all emotions they experience

Emotional Development Age 4 Age 5 Age 6

Understand self emotions Have Empathy Others have feelings too

Talk about how they are feeling

Increase of Frustration Learning about more complex feelings

Jealousy is common feeling they don’t understand yet

Starting to control emotions Less Emotional Outburst

Curious Peer Acceptance Gain self Esteem

Physical fight, get even to hurt feelings

Hurt other feelings- by physical pain

Tease, make fun of others to hurt feelings

Learning to cope Worry more Accept differences

At 4 years of age……..

Intent on asserting independence

Often argumentative and are bossy

Unusually loving and affectionate

Proud of accomplishments, abilities, possessions, and creations

Use new language skills with enthusiasm, enjoy sounds of it

Like when laughing at their own jokes, not their mistakes

Respect the need to explore and test. Avoid treating them like toddlers

4 Year old putting Baribes away

At 5 years of age………Quieter periodGenerally rather practical,

sympathetic, and serious Improved attention span let’s

them finish what they startedBetter memory Increasingly realisticContinue to enjoy slapjack

humor, yet can ask meaningful questions

Adult criticism is hard to takeMore patient, generous,

persistent and conscientiousSometimes feel anxious, want

to receive acceptable outcomes

Hand preference completely evident

A 5 year olds thoughts on marriage

The five year old ladies man

At 6 years of age……

Often stubborn and quarrelsome

Resent directions and act as if they know everything

Rapidly changing moods(love-hate, accept-reject, smile-storm) sometimes for no apparent reason

Learning to appreciate humorous situations and jokes

Throw themselves into fun Many are school all day long for

the first time Longing to feel grown up, but

still feel small and dependent Crave praise and approval,

easily hurt and discouraged

A 6 year olds first heartbreak

6 year old math wiz

Anger Four years- physically

fighting, anger lasts longer than before, attempt to threaten and get even

Five years- More likely to try to hurt others children's feelings than hurting physically

Six years- Even more stinging with words, they tease, insult, nag, and make fun of others

4 year old upset over oreos

FearChildren from 4-6 well

developed imagination

Accept the fear- having someone older who understands can greatly help

Let child express fear without ridicule

Help the child feel able to face to fear

4 year old toilet fears

Jealousy•Often takes form of tattling, criticizing, or even lying

•Some children react to their own feelings of jealousy by boasting. May also result in tensional outlets such as nail-biting, wetting the bed, and tantrums

•Encourage empathy to help lessen jealousy

Physical Rate of growth is only

slightly lower than from ages two to three.

Average yearly increase in height is 2 ½ to 3 inches.

Most children gain about 4 to 5 pounds per year. However, smaller or larger gains are quite common

Body becomes straighter and slimmer

Physical Development Age 4 Age 5 Age 6

Skips and hops Ties Shoes Catch & Throw Ball

Dress and Undress Self Drawing people Colors In lines

Cuts and draws Improving eye hand coordination

Writing many words

Throws & kick a ball Increase Fine/Gross Motor Skills- Hand Dominance

Developed Fine and Gross Motor Skills

Physically Active- Cant sit long

Writes Letters Cuts, paste, molds skillfully

Independent Buttons, snaps and zips clothing

Gain about 4-5 pounds a year Grows 2-3 Inches each year

Social and Moral 4- form friendships with

playmates. Best in groups of three or four. Fighting can be common. Family still more important

5- Outgoing and talkative. Best in groups of five or six. Quarreling is less frequent. More respect for others belongings. Social acceptance is important. Gossip often begins.

6- Social relations are caused by friction, aggression, threats and stubbornness. Want everything. Jealous. Best friends usually same sex; Closer and longer.

Family Relationships

Four Years- Strong sense of family and home. Apt to quarrel and bicker with siblings.

Five Years- Proud of parents and delighted to help. Protective, kind, and dependable.

Six Years- Less in harmony with family, now more self centered. They always come first. Often rough and impatient.

5 year old talks about mom

Moral Development Process of gradually

learning to base ones behavior on personal beliefs of right and wrong- begins early in life.

Cannot yet understand that it is wrong to hurt others. They just know that it makes the caregivers unhappy. They learn to avoid this behavior because they don’t want to lose the love and approval.

Lying As children start to learn

the difference between truth and lies, the information isn’t always right. Exaggerating the details of a story is common.

Help them sort fact from lie, but don’t punish the, for being imaginative.

“The Boy Who Cried Wolf” is a good example.

A reason for lying is fear of consequences. The punishment should never be so severe they are afraid.

Avoid direct confrontations.

Cognitive Development Age 4 Age 5 Age 6

Pre Operational Stage Pre Operational Stage Pre Operational Stage

Egocentric Egocentric Egocentric

Emerging sense of time, space, and numbers

Tell sequence of events Interest of time

Memory is emerging Understand relationships- animals dog, cat

Think Independently

Notice boys and girl difference

Can sort and classify groups Test Limits

Count and Sort Number and Letter sense Understand cause and effect

5 word sentences Noticing patterns Speech is 100%

Concerned about following rules

Trust others

ReadingThe importance of

reading aloud:VocabularyConceptsVicarious

experiencesUnderstanding

general information

Develop desire to learn to read

Learn how books work

Expression of love and caring

Share emotions/develop empathy

How to read aloudPreview the books

To know:LanguageStorylineHow to focus child’s

attentionUnderstand length

of the storyKnow appropriate

vocal expressionsUnderstand

emotions related to the story

How to select quality booksAward winning

storiesQuality authors and

illustratorsPoetryDr. SeussEasy readersAge appropriate

“It’s Hard to Be Five!”

Kindergarten Readiness

• http://www.cde.state.co.us/sites/default/files/documents/cdelib/brochures/download/kindergartenenglish.pdf

What is expected as a child enters Kindergarten?• At your table review your information• Create a poster with kindergarten

expectations• Include a section on tips for parents &

caregivers

Are you ready for…Kindergarten• 1. Tie Shoes and Zip Coat• 2.Follow 2/3step

direction- stand up, say your birthday spin around • 3. Write Full Name• 4.Count to 20 and • 5. Jump on one foot • 6. Match lower and upper

case letter

•R d•B n•G r•D b•N g

Learning Disabilities ADHD- cannot concentrate

for normal length of time. Children who have this often don’t finish what they start, don’t seem to listen and are easily distracted.

Dyslexia- prevents understanding symbols in a normal way. Children are often very intelligent, but their brains do not process things visually well.

Learning Disabilities1. Difficulty mastering

academic work

2. Development is uneven

3.Not due to living in a disadvantaged environment

4. Not due to mental or emotional problems

Gifted and Talented 3-10% of children are

gifted or talented. This means they are unusually intelligent or special talent in an artistic area.

Avoid overwhelming them with unrealistic expectations. Give them a chance to play with it.

Can become easily frustrated and bored in school. May be labeled “problem children”.

Most show recognizable signs by two.