PRESCHOOLERS (4 AND 5 YEARS)

PRESCHOOLERS (4 AND 5 YEARS)
During the preschool period physical growth slows, but control of the body and coordination increase greatly.
Preschoolers’ worlds get larger as they meet relatives, friends, and neighbors.
Physical Development
Preschool-age children tend to grow more in height than in weight, so by the time children are 4 or 5 years old, they appear taller and thinner than toddlers.
WEIGHT
Weight gain in preschool children is generally slow. By 5 years they should have added only another 3 to 5 kg to their 3-year-old weight, increasing it to somewhere between 18 and 20 kg
HEIGHT
Preschool children grow about 5 to 6.25 cm each year. By 4 years of age they have doubled their birth length and measure about 102 cm
By the end of the preschool years, visual ability has improved; normal vision for the 5-year-old is approximately20/30.
The Snellen E chart can be used to assess the preschooler’s vision.
Health Promotion Guidelines for Preschoolers
HEALTH EXAMINATIONS
• Every 1 to 2 years PROTECTIVE MEASURES
• Immunizations: continuing DTaP, IPV, MMR, hepatitis A and B, pneumococcal, influenza, varicella, and other immunizations as recommended
• Screenings for tuberculosis
• Vision and hearing screening
• Regular dental screenings and fluoride treatment if necessary
PRESCHOOLER SAFETY
• Educating child about simple safety rules (e.g., crossing the street)
• Teaching child to play safely (e.g., bicycle and playground safety)
• Educating to prevent poisoning; exposure to toxic materials
NUTRITION
• Importance of nutritious meals and snacks
ELIMINATION
• Teaching proper hygiene (e.g., washing hands after using bathroom)
REST/SLEEP
• Dealing with sleep disturbances (e.g., night terrors,
Sleepwalking PLAY
• Encouraging regular, vigorous physical activity
• Providing times for group play activities
• Teaching child simple games that require cooperation
and interaction
• Providing toys and dress-ups for role-playing
SCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN
(6 TO 12 YEARS) The school-age period starts when children are about 6 years of age and ends at about 12 years, with the onset of puberty.
Because the average age of onset of puberty is 10 for girls and 12 for boys, some people define the school-age years as 6 to 10 for girls and 6 to 12 for boys.
Skills learned during this stage are particularly important in relation to work later in life and willingness to try new tasks. In general, the period from 6 to 12 years is one of significant growth.
WEIGHT
At 6 years boys tend to weigh about 21 kg, about 1 kg more than girls.
The weight gain of schoolchildren from 6 to 12 years of age averages about 3.2 kg per year, but the major weight gains occur from age 10 to 12 for boys and from 9 to 12 for girls.
By 12 years of age boys and girls weigh on the average 40 to 42 kg girls are usually heavier.
Overweight and obesity is unlikely at this age if the child has demonstrated a pattern of good nutrition and regular, vigorous exercise in the infant, toddler, and preschool years
HEIGHT
At 6 years both boys and girls are about the same height, 115 cm
They are about 150 cm (60 in.) by 12 years. Before puberty, children of both sexes have a growth spurt, girls between 10 and 12 years and boys between 12 and 14 years. Thus girls may be taller
than boys at 12 years.
Health Promotion Guidelines for School-Age Children HEALTH EXAMINATIONS
• Annual physical examination or as recommended
PROTECTIVE MEASURES
• Immunizations as recommended (e.g., human papilloma
Virus [HPV], MMR, meningococcal, tetanus-diphtheria [Tdap],
influenza)
• Screening for tuberculosis
• Periodic vision, speech, and hearing screenings
• Regular dental screenings and fluoride treatment
SCHOOL-AGE CHILD SAFETY
• Using proper equipment when participating in sports
and other physical activities
• Encouraging child to take responsibility for own safety (e.g., participating in bicycle and water safety courses)
NUTRITION
• Importance of child not skipping meals and eating a balanced diet
• Experiences with food that may lead to obesity
ELIMINATION
• Utilizing positive approaches for elimination problems
(e.g., enuresis)
PLAY AND SOCIAL INTERACTIONS
• Encouraging regular, vigorous physical activity
• Providing opportunities for a variety of organized group
activities
• Accepting realistic expectations of child’s abilities
• Acting as role models in acceptance of other individuals who may be different
• Providing a home environment that limits TV viewing and video games and encourages completion of homework and healthy exercise