Early+Childhood+Development

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**Early Childhood (Pre-School) Development** Age 3-5 years
The information regarding the early childhood development (age 3-5) were reviewed in many different sources. I have chosen to use information found primarily in the resources listed below.
 * Feigelman S. The preschool years. In: Kliegman RM, Behrman RE, Jenson HB, Stanton BF, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 18th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 10.
 * "CDC - Child Development,Preschooler (3-5 years old) - NCBDDD." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Nov. 2011. <[]>.

**Physical Development**

 * Growth rate slows: the average child in this stage grows 21/2 inches in height and 5-7 pounds per year.
 * Body fat declines during preschool years.
 * Boys have more muscle while girls have more fat.
 * Gross and fine motor skills progress rapidly. Gross motor skills include running, skipping and jumping. Fine motor skills include turning pages of a book and learning to write and draw.
 * The most important physical development during early childhood is the brain and nervous system growth.
 * The average preschool child requires 1700 calories per day. Well balanced meals are important in this stage because their diet affects skeletal growth, body shape and susceptibility to disease.

**Language Development** > When the child is speaking, give your full, prompt attention. Do not comment on the stuttering. Consider having the child evaluated by a speech pathologist if: **Cognitive Development** **Emotional and Social Development**
 * The 3-year-old uses:
 * Pronouns and prepositions appropriately
 * Three-word sentences
 * Plural words
 * The 4-year-old begins to:
 * Understand size relationships
 * Follow a three-step command
 * Count to four
 * Name four colors
 * Enjoy rhymes and word play
 * The 5-year-old:
 * Shows early understanding of time concepts
 * Counts to 10
 * Knows telephone number
 * Responds to "why" questions
 * Stuttering may occur in the normal language development of toddlers ages 3 - 4 years. It occurs because ideas come to mind faster than the child is able to express them, especially if the toddler is stressed or excited.
 * There are other signs with the stuttering, such as tics, grimacing, or extreme self-consciousness
 * The stuttering lasts longer than 6 months
 * From 2-7 years of age children form stable concepts and mental reasoning begins to develop.
 * From 2-4 years children develop symbolic reasoning (the ability to picture an object that is not present.).
 * Egocentrism starts out strong in early childhood, but weakens.
 * Magical beliefs are constructed.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13.3333px;">Between 4-7 years of age the child develops intuitive thought (the use of primitive reasoning skills and wondering "why").
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13.3333px;">Starting school is a major landmark for children this age.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13.3333px;">As children seek greater autonomy, temper tantrums sometimes appear, though often subside with age. Discipline and style of parenting is an important developmental influence.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13.3333px;">The child develops a sense of self around the end of the second year.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13.3333px;">Initiative appears: the child starts making things happen.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13.3333px;">Conscience appears: the child knows right from wrong and is often afraid of being caught doing something wrong.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13.3333px;">Gender identity develops through biological and social influences. Social influences include parents, peers and media sources.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13.3333px;">Morality develops, influenced by role models. Peer relations develop, children often want to dress, talk and act like their friends.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13.3333px;">Social development of a child in the early childhood stage is influenced by type of parenting, economic status of the family and family structure.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13.3333px;">Play is important. There are different types of play.