Preschool Development

By eighteen to thirty-six months, the toddler develops a sense of independence and separation from their parents. They are particularly attached to their mothers. They become insistent on doing things by themselves and need help enhancing their independence.

The eighteen to twenty-four-month toddler will begin to use simple sentences. They have a larger vocabulary and can begin to put together words. They can engage in conversation to a limited degree and are rapidly learning new words all the time. They model speech after others but do not exhibit correct grammar skills.

At twenty-four months, they begin to connect their own feelings and behaviors as they relate to others. They learn empathy toward others and feel bad when others are sad. Some toddlers will develop normally for a while but will regress during times of increased anxiety or stress.

PRESCHOOL DEVELOPMENT

This section is about the development of preschoolers. Three-year-old preschoolers often question everything and are fixated on questions starting with the word “why”. They will pay attention to the answers given when they ask a question and begin to understand social rules. They understand that some behaviors are done because they are good for them but do not understand detailed explanations of what behaviors are appropriate.

Three-year-old preschoolers develop reasoning skills but cannot see things from different angles and cannot solve complex problems. They develop logic skills but cannot think logically about complex things.

They develop a better sense of time around three years of age. They develop daily routines but do not understand that others may have different routines. They understand that there are special days, such as holidays and birthdays but don‟t have a sense of when these events occur nor do they understand the length of a year.

By the age of four years, the child can understand many basic but abstract concepts. They understand that the day is divided into morning, afternoon, and night. They understand the concept of the different seasons. By the age of five, they can count on a limited basis and understand the days of the week. They understand that days can be measured in hours and minutes and understand some of the letters of the alphabet. They understand geometric shapes.

Children at this age need to have a wide variety of learning opportunities. They need to go places that can help them learn new things and actively participate in the learning process. They develop special talents and interests now and should be allowed to develop these interests as they become evident. They should be allowed to develop their interests by exploring activities that they find fascinating.

By the time they reach three years of age, they become more focused on fantasy and have vivid imaginations. They are no longer as difficult to manage as they were when they were toddlers and are mature in many ways. Preschoolers can hop and stand on one foot, go up and down stairs, and can kick a ball forwards. They can throw a ball, catch a ball, and can run without difficulty.

Small motor skills develop as well. They can copy square shapes and draw simple figures representing the human body. They can use a scissors and can draw circles. They can begin to copy some of the letters of the alphabet. They understand the concepts of different and same, and have proper grammar when speaking. They can speak sentences as long as five to six words in length and can tell stories.

Preschoolers can correctly identify colors and may count to a limited degree. They have a better sense of time and can follow complex commands. They can recall stories sent to them and spend a lot of time in fantasy play. They are interested in new experiences and can cooperate with other children. They engage in play-acting that is based on fantasy. They can dress and undress themselves and are much more independent. They may be afraid of imaginary monsters and have difficulties telling the difference between fantasy and reality.

A four or five-year-old child has an increase in bossiness and energy. They may misbehave and engage in behavior that is not socially acceptable. They may have a vast imagination and develop more complex thought processes that will continue through the schoolage years.

Developmental milestones in this period include being able to stand on their foot for more than ten seconds, hopping, doing somersaults, swinging, climbing, and skipping. They can copy several different geometric shapes and can draw a person with some degree of accuracy. They can print some letters and can dress without difficulty. They can use a fork, spoon, and knife. They do not need help with toileting.

Children of this age can recall stories and can speak in long sentences. They can learn the future tense and can say their whole name and address. They can count objects that are greater than ten and can name at least four colors. They understand time and understand the function of objects used in the home.

They advance socially as well and want to please their friends. They want to be liked and can agree to social rules. They like to act out things and can sing or dance. They are more independent and are aware of their sexuality. They can tell the difference between fantasy and reality. Socially, they can be demanding or cooperative, depending on their mood.