Physical Development and
Health in Early Childhood
Chapter 9
Aspects of Physiological
Development

Bodily Growth and Change
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In early childhood (3 to 6 years),
children slim down and shoot up
Muscular and skeletal growth makes
children stronger
Growth changes promote development
of a wide range of motor skills
Aspects of Physiological
Development

Nutrition: Preventing Overweight


Overweight increase is greatest
among children in low-income
families
Preschoolers need fewer calories
in proportion to their weight, but
eating patterns become more
environmentally influenced as they
age
Aspects of Physiological
Development

Nutrition: Preventing Overweight



What children eat is as important
as how much they eat
Prevention of overweight is critical,
as long-term treatment success for
obesity is limited
Overweight children tend to be
overweight adults
Aspects of Physiological
Development

Sleep Patterns and Problems
 Walking and talking during sleep are
fairly common in early childhood
 Occasional nightmares: not cause for
alarm
 Sleep (or night) terror: awakens in a state
of panic
Aspects of Physiological
Development

Sleep Patterns and Problems
 Enuresis (bed-wetting) is repeated urination,
especially at night
 Enuresis runs in families; tends to be more
concordant in identical twins than fraternal
twins
 Usually, enuresis is common, not serious,
and has effective treatments available
Motor Development

Motor Skills

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Gross motor skills involve the large
muscles
Fine motor skills--manipulative eyehand and small-muscle coordination in
skills
Video
Motor Skill Development
in Early Childhood

Gross Motor Skills



Walking, running smoother
Catching, throwing,
swinging, riding
Fine Motor Skills


Self-help: dressing, eating
Drawing
Motor Development

Artistic Development

Children's early pictures show energy and
freedom; later, they show care and accuracy
Progression of Drawing Skills

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Scribbles: during 2nd year
First Representational Forms
 Label already-made drawings:
around age 3
 Draw boundaries and people:
3–4 years
More Realistic Drawings: preschool
to school age
Early Printing: Ages 3–5
Development of Children’s Drawing
Maltreatment: Abuse and Neglect

Maltreatment: Facts and Figures



Highest rates are for children 3 and
under
American Indian, Alaska Native, and
African American children have the
highest rates
Physical aggression occurs at least 1-2x
a year in nearly 9 out of 10 households
Maltreatment: Abuse and Neglect

Contributing Factors: An Ecological View



Maltreatment by parents is aggravated by
other family problems
A disproportionate number of abused and
neglected children are in large, poor, or
single-parent families
Characteristics of abusive parents and families
Maltreatment: Abuse and Neglect

Contributing Factors: An Ecological View



Characteristics of neglectful parents and
families
Abuse and neglect often happen in the same
household
Two cultural values associated with child
abuse are societal violence and physical
punishment of children
Maltreatment: Abuse and Neglect

Effects of Maltreatment

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
Effects include physical, emotional,
cognitive, and social consequences
Behavior problems in school
Often have disorganized-disoriented
attachments to their parents and negative,
distorted self-concepts
Maltreatment: Abuse and Neglect

Effects of Maltreatment


Deprived of early positive social
interactions interfere with social skill
development
Abused children are at higher risk of
becoming delinquent, criminal, or
mentally ill