Physical Development Children add 2 to 3 inches

Physical Development § Children add 2 to 3 inches in height each year § Children gain 5 pounds in weight each year § Boys are slightly larger than girls § By the end of preschool years children begin to lose their “baby” teeth § Malnutrition delays the appearance of permanent teeth § Young children in homes with regular smokers are at an increased risk for decayed teeth § 28% of U. S. preschoolers have tooth decay § 30% of U. S. children living in poverty have dental problems

Factors affecting growth and health in early childhood Heredity and Hormones § The pituitary gland, which is located at the base of the brain, plays a critical role by releasing two hormones that influences growth § A thyroid stimulating hormone prompts the thyroid gland in the neck to release thyroxine which is necessary for brain development § Infants born with a deficiency of thyroxine must receive it at once, or they will be mentally retarded Nutrition § Many children in the United States and in developing countries lack access to sufficient high quality food to support healthy development. § Malnutrition is associated with shorter attention and memory difficulties, lower intelligence, hyperactivity and aggression. Infectious diseases § Of the 7. 5 million annual deaths of children under the age of 5, 98% are in developing countries and 65% are due to infectious diseases. § In developing countries, diarrhea resulting from unsafe water and contaminated food, leads to poor growth and nearly 1 million deaths. § Childhood diseases have declined as a result of widespread immunizations of infants and young children. § About 30% of U. S. preschoolers lack essential immunizations. § The rate rises to 32% for children of poverty § Some children do not have access to health care

Factors affecting growth and health in early childhood Childhood Injuries § Auto and traffic accidents, drownings and burns are the most common injuries during early childhood. § Boys are 1. 5 times more likely to be injured than girls because of their higher activity level. § Children with certain temperamental and personality characteristics (inattentiveness and overactivity, irritability, defiance and aggression are also at a greater risk § Poverty, single parenthood, and low parental education are also strongly associated with injury § Childhood injury rates are high in the United States because of extreme poverty, and shortages of high quality childcare.

Preventing Childhood Injuries § There are laws that require car safety seats, child resistant caps on medicine bottles, flameproof clothing, and fencing around backyard swimming pools § Playgrounds can be covered with protective surfaces § About 27% of U. S. parents fail to place their preschoolers in car safety seats

Supporting language development § Turn to page 195 of your textbook § Look for information on how adults foster preschoolers’ language development § Share this information with you group members § Be prepared to share this information with the rest of the clas s