n July of 1776, our forefathers dreamed of the day that the new America would be independent from Mother England and on July 4th their dream came true. This may be a stretch, but here at Head Start, our preschoolers have similar aspirations of becoming independent and wanting the opportunity to do things on their own.

       The early years of child development are fascinating. There is a great deal of transformative growth occurring throughout every area of development--physically, cognitively, emotionally--in a relatively short amount of time. A newborn dependent on parents and caregivers for survival turns into a curious toddler who then turns into a precocious preschooler all within a four-year process. It is pretty amazing when you stop to think about it.

       There are some important development milestones to keep in mind for parents or caregivers when raising these precocious little people. Children between the ages of three and four undergo fast and furious physical changes. From infancy to age three, a child on average doubles in height and quadruples in weight. As the body continues to grow, preschoolers begin to develop and master fine motor skills, like holding a crayon or a paint brush and scissors; gross motor skills, like hopping or throwing a ball, occur, and they begin to recognize colors.

       Language milestones are important to note as well. During a child’s first three years, he/she has acquired a vocabulary of 300 to 1,000 words and by the time he/she turns four, he/she can speak in sentences that contain about five to six words, tell a story and understand concepts such as the difference between over and under. Don’t forget that reading and talking with young children can help to build vocabulary and strengthen language development.

       From the social and emotional angle we begin to see children becoming interested in new experiences, practicing the skill of cooperation and sharing. They enjoy playing pretend and children start to become more independent (I told you it was a stretch).  Nonetheless, children want to do things on their own, like dressing and undressing or pouring a glass of milk, which are all perfectly typical for a preschooler. Piaget and Erikson, renowned experts in child development, help parents and early childhood educators alike put the growth and development process into perspective when raising/working with young children. So when you ask, “Why does my child do that?” you’ll know it’s just par for the course.

       I would be remiss if I did not mention that all children develop differently and parents should not be worried if their child doesn’t fit the mold, so to speak. However, if you feel your child may be experiencing developmental delays for his or her age, please speak with your pediatrician. There are many early intervention programs that can be of assistance. n