JADE DELILE

CASE STUDY OF A COLLEGE OF

SOUTHERN
CHILD AGE 4 N E VA DA
EDU 220
 ABSTRACT
Physical Development
• Hop and stands on one foot up to 2 seconds
• Catches a bounced ball most of the time
Psychosocial/Social Development
• Likes to share
• Cooperative play with other children
• Intense curiosity

Emotional Development Moral/Character Development

• Enjoys doing new things
• Would rather play with other children other
than himself
• Talks about what he likes and what he’s
Interested in
• Begins to know right from wrong
• More self-controlled, less aggressive
• Responsibility=dependable
• Truthful

Cognitive/Intellectual Development
• Understands the idea of counting
• Starts to understand time
• Names some colors and some numbers
GENERAL PHYSICAL
DEVELOPMENT
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2018) stated the
following for the physical development for a 4-year-old child:
– Hops and stands on one foot more than 2 seconds
– Catches a bounced ball majority of the time
• Child Development Institute, LLC (2017), stated the following in
regards to a child, age 4, physical development:
– Self-sufficient in many routines
– Jumps
– Uses “we”
GENERAL PHYSICAL
DEVELOPMENT LEVEL
ACCORDING TO SNOWMAN

• They have good control of their bodies and

enjoy activities for their own sake
• Children this age don’t recognize the need
to slow down
• Large muscles are more developed than
those that control fingers and hands
• Clumsy
• The child may have difficulty accomplishing
certain tasks. For example, tying a shoe or
buttoning a shirt.
(McCown & Snowman, 2015)
4-YEAR-OLD PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT
CHARACTERISTICS (OBSERVATION)
The 4-year-old boy that I observed is shorter than his
classmates but hits the majority of the physical
characteristics he should be developing at his age. He is
very active, good coordination, as he can do many
gymnastic skills such as balancing on one foot and doing
handstands. He is clumsy when it comes to certain
things such as putting his shoes on and taking off his
socks if they are too tight. Lastly, he has great flexibility
as he can do gymnastics stretches, such as the "splits."
PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT
RECOMMENDATIONS
• Supervise physical activities and set limits if necessary
(University of Washington, 1993).
• Provide opportunities for your child to dress
themselves, such as putting on his shoes (University of
Washington, 1993).
• Play make-believe with your child and let him lead
(Center for Disease Control Prevention, 2018).
• Teach your child outdoor games such as ”tag” (Center
for Disease Control Prevention, 2018).
GENERAL EMOTIONAL BEHAVIORS

• Jealousy of same-sex parent and fears the dark and

injury (Child Development Institute, LLC, 2017).
• 4-year-olds can view situations from another’s
perspective, such as hitting and yelling out of
frustration (PBS Parents, 2019).
• Sensitive about the feelings of other people towards
one's self (University of Washington, 1993).
GENERAL EMOTIONAL
DEVELOPMENT LEVEL
ACCORDING TO SNOWMAN

• Express their emotions freely and

openly
• Frequent anger outbursts
• Jealousy amongst others
• Difficulty in reflecting on thoughts of
self or others
• Have affection for the teacher and
actively seek approval
(McCown & Snowman, 2015)
4-YEAR-OLD EMOTIONAL
DEVELOPMENT CHARACTERISTICS
(OBSERVATION)

The child that I was observing did not display any jealousy
towards his classmates when they were getting praised for
their accomplishments. He also didn't fight for the affection
and attention from his teacher during the activity but did
want attention from his classmates. Lastly, during the class,
his mother had to step in and let him know that he needs
to pay attention, and he got emotional and started crying.
EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT
RECOMMENDATIONS

• Children often get overwhelmed with

feelings, so parents should provide them with
tools such as teaching them to verbalize
what they can and cannot do (PBS Parents,
2019).
• Acknowledge their self-control (PBS Parents,
2019).
• Develop a warm relationship with the child
by showing confidence in them (University of
Washington, 1993).
• Praise the child whenever you can
(University of Washington, 1993).
GENERAL COGNITIVE/INTELLECTUAL
DEVELOPMENT
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2018) stated the following
for the cognitive/intellectual development for a 4-year-old child:
– Understands the idea of counting
– Names some colors and some numbers
• University of Washington (1993), stated the following in regards to a
child, age 4, cognitive/intellectual development:
– Runs, jumps, and begins to climb ladders
– Tries anything
– Tends to wander away
GENERAL COGNITIVE/INTELLECTUAL DEVELOPMENT
LEVEL ACCORDING TO PIAGET AND VYGOTSKY

• Piaget: Cognitive Development:

– Cognitive development strongly influenced by peers
rather than adults.
– Adaption: tendency to adjust to any environment.
• Vygotsky: Cognitive Development:
– Cognitive Development promoted by instruction in zone
of proximal development.
– Cognitive development is strongly influenced by those
who are
(McCown & Snowman, 2015)
4-YEAR-OLD COGNITIVE/INTELLECTUAL
DEVELOPMENT CHARACTERISTICS (OBSERVATION)

The 4-year-old that I observed lacked in the

intellectual/cognitive developmental stages. The student
has a difficult time communicating with words, as he will
use his emotions to display his feelings. He is unable to
say his last name but understands that when it's his turn,
he refers to himself by his first name. He did hit other
milestones for his age, as he's curious and inquisitive, and
would wander off to explore other things in the
classroom. Lastly, his peers influenced him, rather than
the adults in the room, which supports Piaget's cognitive
development theory.
COGNITIVE/INTELLECTUAL
DEVELOPMENT
RECOMMENDATIONS

• Provide sensory experiences, such as sand, and explain

things to a child, while answering honestly (University
of Washington, 1993).
• Say color in books and count common items such as
the number of snacks they have. Also, when you read
a book, ask him what happens in the story as you go
(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2018).
GENERAL PSYCHOSOCIAL/SOCIAL
DEVELOPMENT
• Enjoys doing new things and cooperates with other children
(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2018).
• Children at this age are learning how to take turns and share
ideas (PBS Parents, 2019)
• They start to understand that others have feelings, thoughts,
and likes, that are different from that their own (PBS Parents,
2019)
• Can leave their mother, but still the most important person to
them (University of Washington, 1993).
GENERAL PSYCHOSOCIAL/SOCIAL
DEVELOPMENT LEVEL ACCORDING TO ERIKSON

• Erikson’s based his theory on the epigenetic principle, which is

that all ego stages exist in some form from the very beginning
of life, and each has a critical period of development.
• Initiative versus guilt: the ability to participate in many physical
activities and use language sets that stage for initiative. If they
have the freedom to explore and experiment, and parents or
teachers answer questions, then tendencies towards healthy
initiative will be encouraged.
• Likes to compete for a limited number of rewards.
(McCown & Snowman, 2015)
4-YEAR-OLD PSYCHOSOCIAL/SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
CHARACTERISTICS (OBSERVATION)

The student that I was observing showed that he is

hitting his psychosocial/social milestones. He enjoyed
playing with others and displayed his enthusiasm for
learning new things when the teacher started a new
activity. The 4-year-old had a little problem when it came
to taking turns, as he would step out of line and not pay
attention. He would also "cut" in front of some of his
classmates. When he attended class, he had no problem
leaving his mother. However, when she came into class
to scold him when he was misbehaving, he was upset for
a while, thinking he "hurt his mom's feelings."
PSYCHOSOCIAL/SOCIAL
DEVELOPMENT
RECOMMENDATIONS

• Model empathy by reflecting your children's

emotions and responding with compassion
and read stories to them (PBS Parents,
2019).
• Scheduling play dates are not only fun, but it
will help develop their friendship skills (PBS
Parents, 2019).
• Model the things you want your child to do
(University of Washington, 1993).
• Help your child find socially acceptable ways
of dealing with others (University of
Washington, 1993).
GENERAL MORAL/CHARACTER
DEVELOPMENT
• PBS Parents (2019) stated the • University of Washington (1993),
following for the character stated the following in regards to a
development of a 4-year-old child: child, age 4, moral development:
– Learning to have the courage and – Begins to know right from wrong
doing activities that are out of their – Is more self-controlled and less
norm, like meeting a new teacher. aggressive
– Develop perseverance and sticking
to something until they succeed.
– Understanding that they have
responsibilities, such as picking up
their toys when they are done.
GENERAL MORAL/CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT
LEVEL ACCORDING TO KOHLBERG

• Morality of constraint: rules are sacred, consequences

determine guilt.
• Morality of cooperation: rules are flexible, intent
important in determining guilt.
• Preconventional morality: avoid punishment, receive
benefits in return.
• Conventional authority: impress others, respect
authority.
(McCown & Snowman, 2015)
 During my observations, I notice that Kohlberg's theories came into play.
The student had a morality of cooperation because he thought that the
rules were flexible and he didn't feel any guilt when the teacher scolded him
4-YEAR-OLD the first time. He didn't feel guilty for his actions until his mother scolded

MORAL/CHARACTER him. The 4-year-old lacked a little in the moral/character development

category. He had trouble learning right from wrong, as he didn't pay
DEVELOPMENT attention to the teacher and didn't understand why she was scolding him
when he would run off and do something on his own. Also, he lacked
CHARACTERISTICS responsibility when it came to listening to the instructor. Additionally, he
(OBSERVATION) didn't have very much self-control when it came to exploring everything
around him, rather than doing to activity at hand. Lastly, he did have
courage doing new gymnastics activities and wasn't shy when he met me
(someone new).
MORAL/CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT
RECOMMENDATIONS
• Give your child age-appropriate responsibilities, such
as putting a book away after reading it (PBS Parents,
2019).
• Encourage your child to be a "helper" (PBS Parents,
2019).
• Provide clear limits, but not harshly (University of
Washington, 1993).
• Notice and reinforce a child's self-control, such as
waiting for their turn (University of Washington,
1993).
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