PRESCHOOL

- sense of initiative and guilt

GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT:

weight gain: 4.5 to 6.5 lbs/yr
height gain: 2.5 to 3.5 in/yr
slender but sturdy, graceful, posturally erect
development of the superego and conscience
- began during toddlerhood, realization at
preschool
- right thing to do
- defecate at the right time/place
developed concept of friendship, acceptance of
responsibility and independence
play: associative
- leading to the development of friendship
acceptance of responsibility? able to grasp the
idea that I am responsible for myself.
initiative: learning how to do things
start, but will not finish
MILESTONES (TABLE 15-1 p. 652-653)
3 YEARS OLD: TRUSTING THREE
uses alternate feet in going up stairs
walks backwards, rides tricycle
copies a circle, imitates a cross
gives full name, sex
knows on sex and that of others
feeds self well, can undress self, pulls on shoes
can wash hands, face and brush teeth
900 words - telegraphic speech (essential
words)
3 to 4 word sentences
asks many questions
4 YEARS OLD: FURIOUS FOUR
more noisy, stormy age
walks down stairs with alternating feet
skips/hop on one foot
throws ball over bed/head
copies square, traces a cross and diamond

use of scissors
1500 words - talk to imaginary friend
questions at peak, WHY?
Tall tales, magical thinking

5 YEARS OLD:
po and opo
less rebellious, likely to do what is expected of
him
has better manners
greater strength and improved muscular coordination
runs skilfully, hops well, jumps rope, skips on
alternating feet
throws and catches ball well
copies diamond and triangle
2100 words - talks consistently
- may stutter, broken fluency
6 to 8 word sentences with all parts of speech
dresses and undresses self without assistance
ties shoelace
INTIATIVE VS GUILT:
energetic learning
ready to find out what he can do
attempts to imitate results
imaginative and creative
pretends he can participate in the adult world
must learn to assert own will in a way what
will not make him feel guilty
PRE-OPERATIONAL:
shifts from being egocentric to the ability to
see the point of view of others
magical thinking - believes that their thinking
is so powerful, they can make things happen
animism - believes that everything has a soul
- attributing life to inanimate objects

PHALLIC:
forms a strong attachment to the opposite sex
parent
oedipal period
sexual orientation may be more pronounced
(manipulates their genitals)
asks questions about sex (gender differences
and sexual production
sex education (know what the child knows)
masturbate - fear of mutilation
EMOTIONAL AND SOCIAL NEEDS:
individualism - separation process is complete
continuous need for parental love, security,
reassurance, guidance and approval
associative games - dramatic plays and imaginary playmates
PHYSIOLOGIC NEEDS:
*NUTRITION
90 cal/kg (1800 cal/day)
100mL/kg/day
still with food fads
table manners may not be ideal yet until 5 y/o
emphasize importance of quality and not quantity of food eaten
serve food with pretty dishes, comfortable
chairs and child-size portions
parents should serve as good role models
do not nibble/give junk food between meals
*SLEEP ACTIVITY
average: 12 hours
should have own room/portion of a divided
room for his own
avoid co-sleeping with parents
DENTAL HEALTH:
complete deciduous teeth
requires assistance and supervision in brushing
dental prophylaxis
avoid sweets

SAFETY MEASURES:
increased initiative and desire to imitate behavior of adults leads to a situation hazardous
to them
emphasize safety measures
safe environment especially in nursery school
parental love and guidance is needed
give tasks without giving sharps
PROBLEM AREAS:
OEDIPUS/ELECTRA COMPLEX
family romance
girls become closer to father
boys become closer to mother
rivalry/competition with parents of the same
sex
feels guilty in wishing same sex parent is dead
parent of the same sex provides model for
child to imitate as he/she matures
resolved by strongly identifying with same sex
parent
FEARS
variety of real and imagined fear: dark, being
left alone, animals, ghost, pain, body mutilation
help them deal with these fears (nightlight, desensitization)
*FEAR OF THE DARK/NIGHTMARES
cause by vivid imagination and over stimulation before bedtime
offer comfort, assurance, sense of protection
set a consistent bedtime ritual, security object
controversy in co-sleeping
ritualistic behaviour may continue until preschool stage
AGGRESSION
*HURTING OTHERS
determine if accidental or intentional

 may be caused by jealousy, frustration, modelling, imitating behaviour of significant others,

reinforcement
attention getting behavior
*DESTRUCTIVENESS
remove valuable objects
provide space for safe play
teach them to value own possession
what he/she values, he/she will use with
care.
LYING AND TALL TALES
tells fantasy/pretend stories
stretching (exaggeration) stories to make them
more interesting
parents acknowledges them as fantasy stories
and set realities
help child maintain difference between what is
real and what is not
IMAGINARY FRIENDS
serves as a companion in times of loneliness
accomplishes what the child wants to do, a
scapegoat for his wrong doings
normals as long as it does not prevent the child
from socializing with normal children
should not allow child to use friend to escape punishment
SIBLING RIVALRY
jealousy and rejection because of dethronement of the new baby
may become hostile to the mother
needs adequate preparation for the birth of new
sibling
help deal with new sibling after birth
LANGUAGE PROBLEM
stuttering/broken fluency/stammering
dyslalia - articulation problem where the child
reverts to infantile speech
swearing

- talk with them slowly and clearly

- avoid completing the toddlers sentences
- take time to listen to them attentively
REGRESSION
going back to previous stage of development:
thumb sucking, loss of bladder control, separation anxiety, baby talk
caused by stressful factors like: birth of new
sibling, new school experience, family problems, hospitalization
*THUMBSUCKING
may be caused by too little sucking pleasure
when younger
child may be unloved
parents must provide more love and security
especially at the time observed
divert attention from activity
*ENEURESIS (BEDWETTING)
rule out medical cause first: UTI, diabetes
caused by lack of toilet training, or readiness
in toilet training
nocturnal because of the fear of the dark
parent should not punish the toddler
give less fluid during the night
help the child to achieve confidence in his
ability to control elimination
ENCOPRESIS
range of toilet training: 22 to 30 months
earliest training: 18 months or 1 1/2 y/o
uncontrolled stool passage
beyond the time when bowel control is expected
rule out medical cause first: diarrhea, anal
sphincter problem
may be due o rigid bowel training
PREPARING THE CHILD FOR SCHOOL:
bring the child to school
latch key - safety