P
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Children usually relish outdoor play - sliding, biking, playing in
water, running, swinging
Jungle
gyms may be a passion.
Vivid
dramatic play with lots of imagination is common.
Bowels
are usually under control, though bed wetting is still occurring
for some.
This
is a noisy age and even when alone the child may converse with self.
Imaginative play includes lots of verbalizations.
Language
is exciting for the child with plays on words, nursery rhymes, and
silly word plays consuming much time and energy.
Meals
and food are often an issue at this age. Taking away all forms of
junk and serving small portions may help.
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E
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Initiative
vs. Guilt Egocentrism is common.
When
the child does not wish to conform there are frequent tantrums,
eruptions and verbal remonstrations.
This
may be a very stormy age with words like exuberance and out of bounds
used to give a flavor of the energy of this age.
Words
that describe this age may include enthusiastic, spontaneous, excited,
happy, and combustible!
Permitting
freedom of choice and enterprise works best as encouragement.
Modeling
also helps the child to obtain better behavior sets.
Imaginative
materials and ideas will help distract the child at those times
when self control flags.
Rest
and quite times are a real assist to this age group.
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P
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The child is pre-moral and may talk about and think about God rather
often.
Fantasy
and rather entwined for this age group.
Lying
is generally an effort not to get caught rather than naughtiness,
and there is seldom real awareness of lying until it is brought
to the child's attention.
Cheating
is usually a reflection of the child's wish to compete and win.
Losing
a game is nearly beyond this age's ability to do with composure.
Obstinacy
causes more disharmony than meanness.
Taking
things is common, but seldom with malice, rather with the wonder
and wishing for the object taking precedence over self control.
The
fantasy world is quite compelling.
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S
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Role playing and helping are great pastimes.
Interest
in friends seems paramount and passionate.
Bathroom
privacy is often insisted upon.
Encourage
and model any behaviors desired, since this is an optimal time for
learning through modeling. This would include sharing, helping,
controlling temper.
Hero
worship is common for this age group. It may help a child to be
more appropriate if asked to behave as a hero might or to get the
job done as "Rambo" would.
Play
can be extended and children need less supervision, but frequent
adult checks are important as are nourishing snacks and short rest
times. This may help the child feel more in control of self, and
less frantic.
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I
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The child becomes more involved in concrete concept formation.
Language,
word play and word usage are nearly a passion.
For
may children talking is almost constant - including inanimate objects.
Skill
in manipulating increases.
Love
of music shows.
TV
may mesmerize.
Overgeneralization
as a way of classifying and thinking shows up in language.
Questions
is at an all time high.
Many
can count and tell time.
Sense
of space is expanding.
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