FL DCF Child Care, Preschool Appropriate Practices (PSPR) (2019)
Play should not be thought of as
"free play" or random, with no point, goal or learning in mind.
Children at this age (2-7) and stage (Preoperational)
-Tend to think illogically, as they will begin to develop logic in the next stage, concrete-operational. -Their thinking process is non-sequential, such as not understanding that a small puddle was once an ice cube. -Are egocentric, meaning that they do not perceive the consequences of their actions upon others. -They are beginning to understand simple concepts, e.g., to classify large and small stack-able plastic bowls or to understand the sequence of their daily schedule.
Late Adult (Integrity vs. Despair)
After the age of 65, adults seek meaning in their lives. Adults are reflecting on their accomplishments and fulfillment in life. A lack of achievement may lead to despair in the final years.
The stages of play defined by Mildred Parten that apply to preschool children are:
Associative play - children play together with materials and some talking (3-5 years old) Cooperative play - children play together by planning and working toward a common goal (5 years old through adolescence)
High School (Identity vs. Role Confusion)
Between the ages of 12 to 18, children are attempting to define who they are and where they are going. When children are given the opportunity to develop their own ideas and opinions, they can form their own identity. A lack of identity will lead to confusion about who they are.
Early Adult (Intimacy vs. Isolation)
Between the ages of 18 to 35, young adults are exploring the development of relationships. Young adults need the opportunity to develop close relationships with family, friends, and partners. A lack of intimate relationships can lead to individuals feeling isolated and alone.
Middle Adult (Generativity vs. Stagnation)
Between the ages of 35 to 64, adults are seeking a sense of accomplishment in life through family and career. Adults need to see progress in their careers or success in their contributions to society. A lack of accomplishment often leads to feelings of resentment and regret.
Grade School (Industry vs. Inferiority)
Between the ages of 6 to 12, children show the ability to develop competencies. Children who are inhibited in developing these skills and abilities will experience inferiority. When children experience success, they attain a sense of adequacy and pride. A lack of industry can result in a feeling of low self-worth.
In 1998 a bill was passed that requires children ages birth to 5 years old in state funded programs be read to for at least 30 minutes each day (Florida Statute 402.25).
Caregivers are not required to read for the thirty minutes at one time, this should be broken up throughout the day based on the age and attention span of the children.
Fine motor skills are actions performed by using the fingers in coordination with the eyes. Some fine motor skills you should see developing in young children are:
Coloring. Modeling. Cutting. Stringing. Self-help skills.
Indications of developmental delay in a three-year-old:
Consistently unintelligible speech Failure to understand and follow simple directions Unable to tell you their own name Does not enjoy playing near other children Sentences never exceed 3 to 4 words Child never asks questions
What are some ways that you can support children while overcoming the initiative vs. guilt conflict during the ages of 3-5 years old?
Continue to provide a relationship based on trust. Allow and encourage children to explore and experiment in a safe environment. Guide children to initiate activities.
4 Years - Kindergarten (Mathematical Thinking)
Counting aloud through at least 31 with assistance Throwing a number cube or dice during a board game and moving the correct number of spaces
3 - 4 Years (Mathematical Thinking)
Counting in order Duplicating an auditory pattern modeled by an adult
3 - 4 Years (Creative Expression Through the Arts)
Creating a collage with various fabrics Exploring musical instruments Using ribbons, scarves, and other props while spinning and moving to music
4 Years - Kindergarten (Creative Expression Through the Arts)
Creating a three-dimensional collage using one material or a variety of materials Playing various instruments and discovering different types of sounds that each instrument can make Imitating animal movements
Indications of developmental delay in a five-year-old:s
Does not alternate feet while walking (Child brings feet together before taking the next step) Unable to speak in a moderate voice Unable to follow a series of directions (Stop, pick up the cup, bring it here) Sentences never exceed 4 to 5 words Unable to use scissors to cut on a line Unable to sit still and listen for 5 minutes Does not play well with other children Uninterested in playing with other children Unable to perform self-grooming tasks (washing hands, combing hair)
Indications of developmental delay in a four-year-old:
Does not recognize simple shapes such as circles, squares and triangles Unable to catch a large ball Does not have good control of posture and movement Unable to hop on one foot Does not respond to statements without constantly asking to have them repeated Unable to dress with minimal adult assistance Frequent toileting accidents Does not acknowledge the presence of other children in the environment
Social and Emotional Development
During this stage, children will advance from parallel play to associative or collaborative play, which includes interacting and sharing toys and materials with other children.
The Preoperational Stage
During this stage, young children learn about their world through their actions. This is one reason that hands-on learning is crucial during this stage of development. As a caregiver, you must provide children with as many opportunities for hands-on learning as possible.
Erik Erikson -
Eight Conflicts of Social and Emotional Development
Between the ages of 3-5 years old, children will develop an interest in exploring beyond themselves. This interest in exploring must be nurtured in a safe environment, or children may develop a sense of guilt about their actions.
Encouraging a young child's initiative to explore will result in their experimentation within the environment, and will help them feel comfortable about the world around them.
True or False? Children between the ages of 3 and 5 understand about 900 words.
False 3-4 years Adds new words to vocabulary weekly (e.g., repeats words and integrates new words in play scenarios) (typically has a speaking vocabulary of approximately 1,000 words) 4-5 years Uses a large speaking vocabulary, adding new words weekly (e.g., repeats words and uses them appropriately in context) (typically has a vocabulary of more than 1,500 words)
True or False? Children at this age are egocentric, meaning they focus intensely on how their actions will affect others.
False Children at this age are egocentric, meaning that they DO NOT perceive the consequences of their actions upon others.
True or False? Erik Erikson developed the theory that cognitive development occurs through four stages in a person's lifetime.
False Erik Erikson developed the theory that emotional development occurs through 8 stages in a person's lifetime.
True or False? Gross motor skills are movements performed by using fingers in coordination with eyes.
False Gross motor skills are the skills used to perform physical tasks with the large muscles in the body.
True or False? The term "fine motor skills" describes the movements used to perform physical tasks with the large muscles in the body.
False Gross motor skills are the skills used to perform physical tasks with the large muscles in the body.
True or False? Around three years of age, a typical child's speech may still be consistently unintelligible.
False Indication of developmental delay in a three-year-old: Consistently unintelligible speech
True or False? Language development is one of the key aspects of a child's learning at ages 6 and 7.
False Language development is one of the most important aspects of a child's learning during the ages of 3-5 years.
True or False? Children's songs are entertaining but do not serve any educational purpose.
False Music has a general appeal to children of all ages and also features rhyming and repetition of words. Helping children learn the words to age appropriate music is a great way to ensure that they will absorb and retain new words.
True or False? Onomatopoeia means words that describe smells.
False Onomatopoeia are words that make sounds like "Pop," "Bang," "Plunk" and "Snap."
True or False? Preschoolers deal with the "trust vs. mistrust" conflict and experiment with their environment when initiative is encouraged.
False Since this course focuses on young children, we will focus on stage 3 and its conflict, initiative vs. guilt, which takes place during the age of 3-5 years.
True or False? Since children are mostly expected to develop at the same rate, caregivers should uniformly apply expectations to children according to age range.
False While all children are not expected to develop at the same rate, there are some warning signs that may indicate that a child has a developmental delay.
Jean Piaget -
Four Stages of Cognitive Development
Preschool (Initiative vs. Guilt)
Four- or five-year olds begin to develop an interest in exploring beyond themselves. Children who are not allowed to pursue their natural curiosity will be prone to feel guilt for their actions. When initiative is encouraged, a person experiments within one's environment. A lack of encouragement for initiative can result in a feeling of guilt for acting on one's natural curiosity.
There are many ways that children change physically between the ages of 3 and 5 including:
Growing taller and leaner than toddlers. Smaller appetite Weight gain. (3 pounds per year) Height gain. (2½ inches between the ages of 3 - 5) Lower center of balance. (stability of their balance and movement) Improved spatial ability. (completing puzzles, stacking blocks, and balancing objects)
Language development in young children is happening at a rapid pace. It is crucial during this stage that children are exposed to new words and encouraged to elaborate when they speak.
Improvement in understanding of speech. Even though children at this age tend to speak in one to three word sentences, they understand many words. Be sure to speak to children in full sentences and constantly introduce new words. Children at this age often make language mistakes, for example saying, "I goed" instead of "I went" Be sure to encourage correct language usage. Instead of telling a child they are wrong, model the appropriate language back to them.
Children benefit from play in numerous ways.
It enhances their well-being as they release frustration and negative emotions, and although it is not a substitute for physical exercise, it does work off excess energy.
3 - 4 Years (Scientific Inquiry)
Noticing when something tastes sweet Taking objects apart and trying to put them back together Exploring a tree using a plastic magnifying glass
Eight areas of development are:
Physical Development Approaches to Learning Social and Emotional Development Language and Literacy Mathematical Thinking Scientific Inquiry Social Studies Creative Expression Through the Arts
There are a variety of ways to help children learn new words, including:
Poems Songs Stories Parental Involvement
What are some ways you can implement developmentally appropriate practice to support the growth of young children during this stage?
Provide open-ended, hands-on activities so children can progress through as they develop transformation Ask open-ended questions that encourage children to explain their thought process. Provide a variety of activities that allow children to experience real life events (field trips, guest speakers, show and tell). Ask children about their own experience. For example: "Tell us about your painting." At story time ask the children about their favorite stories, and ask the children what happens in the stories. Provide children with the opportunity to make choices. For example: "Which learning center would you like to play in today?"
According to Piaget, the four stages of cognitive development are:
Sensorimotor - 0-2 years old Preoperational - 2-7 years old Concrete-Operational - 7-11 years old Formal Operations - 11 years old and older
Mildred Parten defined four stages of play:
Solitary play (playing alone) Parallel play (playing beside other children, but not interacting with them) Associative play (sharing toys and materials during unorganized play) Cooperative play (playing together in groups and making up rules and goals during play)
4 Years - Kindergarten (Scientific Inquiry)
Taking things apart and using parts to invent new structures Discussing favorite colors or foods
4 Years - Kindergarten (Social Studies)
Talking about family traditions during story time Playing games or instruments from other countries
3 - 4 Years (Social Studies)
Talking about food, objects, and customs from their own family or culture Asking questions about differences they have with their peers such as skin, hair, etc.
What are some reasons why children play?
To have fun Interact with other children Develop skills
Toddler (Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt)
Toddlers need to explore their own bodies and environment in order to become confident about themselves. When autonomy is allowed, a person can become comfortable with his/her choices. A lack of autonomy can result in a feeling of shame or insecurity.
True or False? Children between the ages of 3 and 5 need to be exposed to as many different types of learning experiences as possible to make it easier for them to transition into kindergarten.
True
True or False? Developmentally Appropriate Practice is made up of three principles: age appropriateness, individual appropriateness, and cultural appropriateness.
True
True or False? Poems are a good way to introduce new words to children because they are short and feature rhyming and the repetition of words.
True
True or False? Poems, songs, stories, and parental involvement are all good ways of helping language develop for children.
True
True or False? Songs like 'Old Macdonald' are important because they introduce children to new animals and the sounds they make.
True
True or False? To increase a child's vocabulary, parents should be encouraged to read to their child daily.
True
True or False? Onomatopoeia means words that describe sounds.
True Onomatopoeia are words that make sounds like "Pop," "Bang," "Plunk" and "Snap."
True or False? According to Piaget, the preoperational stage is the most relevant to young children.
True According to Piaget, the Preoperational stage is from ages 2-7 and is most relevant to young children. During this stage, young children learn about their world through their actions.
True or False? Between the ages of 2-7 years, children are only focused on themselves.
True According to Piaget, the Preoperational stage is from ages 2-7 and is most relevant to young children. During this stage, young children learn about their world through their actions. Children at this age are egocentric, meaning that they DO NOT perceive the consequences of their actions upon others. A particular type of centration is egocentrism - literally, "self-centeredness." Piaget claimed that young children are egocentric, capable of contemplating the world only from their personal perspective.
True or False? During the preschool years, children will advance from parallel play to associative or collaborative play, which includes interacting and sharing toys and materials with other children.
True During this stage, children will advance from parallel play to associative or collaborative play, which includes interacting and sharing toys and materials with other children.
True or False? A five-year-old child who is uninterested in playing with other children may be experiencing a developmental delay.
True Indications of developmental delay in a five-year-old:s Uninterested in playing with other children
True or False? While children may experience some toileting accidents, around the age of four, children should not experience them frequently.
True Indications of developmental delay in a four-year-old: Frequent toileting accidents
True or False? A three-year-old child should be able to state his or her own name.
True Indications of developmental delay in a three-year-old: Unable to tell you their own name
True or False? Piaget's theory explains how children interact with their environment to construct knowledge.
True Piaget's theory explains how children interact with their environment to construct knowledge.
Infant (Trust vs. Mistrust)
Trust is developed over time by providing an infant with a consistent, comforting environment. When needs are met, trust is established. Trust builds an emotional foundation. A lack of trust can result in poor emotional stability
Literacy Skills (Children 3-5 are just beginning to develop their written language skills)
Understand print. Distinguish writing from non-writing. Recognize letters and words. Write letters followed by mock letters. Recognize how words and sentences are organized.
Gross motor skills are the skills used to perform physical tasks with the large muscles in the body. Some areas where you will notice improvement in the gross motor skills of young children are:
Walking. Running. Jumping. Climbing. Throwing.
Play involves
active engagement by the player
Social interactions
are important for developing children's self-awareness and relationships with family members, caregivers, and peers. Caregivers support social studies by providing a nurturing and respectful environment that promotes social learning.
Children between the ages of 3 and 5 need to be exposed to
as many different types of learning experiences as possible to make it easier for them to transition into kindergarten.
The main form of play that can be observed in children of this age is
associative play.
When children are not encouraged to explore and experiment in their environment, they can begin to feel guilty about acting on their natural curiosity. This can
become detrimental to their development at later levels and can hinder progress throughout their lifetime until this conflict becomes resolved. As a consequence, the development of problem-solving skills may suffer.
Learning activities should be
challenging, engaging and also attainable.
Scientific Inquiry is
children using their natural investigative curiosities to explore and investigate their world. Caregivers foster scientific inquiry by creating opportunities for children to explore, investigate, observe, and record changes in their environment, such as the weather.
Social Studies refers to
children's basic social understanding, beginning with themselves and family members, and then expanding to their peers. Social studies assists children with social-emotional growth and integrity.
Erik Erikson
developed the theory that emotional development occurs through 8 stages in a person's lifetime. He proposes that individuals must go through each of the 8 stages in a sequential order. Each stage presents a conflict that must be resolved before a person can progress to the next stage.
Young children learn through play. Children at this age
do not have the literacy and reading skills required to benefit from the type of curriculum used with school-age children. Young children need to learn through hands-on activities and experiences designed to help them practice new skills and gain the knowledge they need to prepare them for the next phase of their development.
Developmentally Appropriate Practice
focuses on children birth to eight years old and is made up of three principle components: age appropriateness, individual appropriateness and cultural appropriateness.
Caregivers should plan and prepare experiences that are
fun, stimulating, and offer hands-on opportunities for learning that are challenging and achievable.
If a child does have a developmental delay,
he or she will have an easier time overcoming the delay through early intervention. Don't be afraid to mention your observations to your program director and ask for a second opinion.
Creative Expression Through the Arts
helps children to express their ideas and feelings, and to learn to solve problems using words, tools, and media. Children learn to appreciate other people's contributions, which gives them a better understanding of the different ways to be creative.
Piaget's theory explains
how children interact with their environment to construct knowledge.
Teachers should keep in mind
how children learn and thoughtfully plan activities that support development in a fun and engaging way.
As a caregiver, it is important to know what to look for in the development of young children so that you can
identify if there are any developmental delays that need to be addressed.
Developmentally appropriate practice, or DAP,
is a concept developed by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).
According to Piaget, the Preoperational stage
is from ages 2-7 and is most relevant to young children. During this stage, young children learn about their world through their actions.
Allowing and creating opportunities for children to express themselves creatively
is important for healthy development. Children need to stretch their imaginations and experience sensory arts, music, and creative movement to communicate their feelings and ideas.
Language development
is one of the most important aspects of a child's learning at this age (3-5 years). It is important to expand a child's vocabulary by introducing as many new words as possible during this stage.
Children's ______________ improves through play,
language, physical and social development, as well as their problem-solving skills.
Erikson's theory on social development states that children at this age
must be nurtured while they develop an interest in exploring beyond themselves.
Quality early childhood programming should provide
opportunities for children to participate in purposeful play.
Associative play is characterized by
participation in group activities without defined rules or goals.
Play provides
pleasure to the player
Erikson (8 letters in last name, 8 stages/conflicts)
proposes that each conflict is best resolved during a specific stage of life. People who successfully resolve each conflict are better able to lead a healthy, socially and emotionally connected life.
There are many ways to accomplish this;
reading to children, providing hands-on play opportunities, introducing new words daily, and allowing the children to play and socialize with each other.
Mathematical Thinking
refers to number knowledge; pattern, size, and shape awareness; and the relationship between objects and space.
Physical Development
refers to the ways that children's bodies grow and change. It involves growing larger, having an increased appetite, and improving physical ability.
During the ages of 3-5 years old, children will be progressing from
solitary and parallel play into associative play and eventually cooperative play.
Play focuses more on
the player's enjoyment of the process than the acquisition of some particular product
The child's curiosity and natural ability to develop new skills should be
the teachers' main focus when they are planning learning activities.
Play is
voluntary and freely chosen by the player