Physical Development in Preschoolers

Myelination

A process of increased myelination leading to more interconnections among neurons, enhancing brain function.

Lateralization

The process by which the two hemispheres of the brain become more specialized, with the left hemisphere focusing on language processing and the right on emotional expression.

Growth Query

The ongoing debate about whether cognitive advances drive brain development or if brain development facilitates cognitive accomplishments.

Night Terror

An intense physiological arousal that causes dramatic awakening in panic, commonly experienced by preschoolers.

Just-right Phenomenon

A behavior where preschoolers may develop rigid meal routines and preferences.

Leukemia

The most common cancer in preschoolers, characterized by excessive white blood cell production in the bone marrow.

Fine Motor Skills

Skills that require practice and are influenced by gender socialization, shaping the activities boys and girls engage in.

Cognitive Test Scores

Increase in lead exposure correlates with lower cognitive test scores among children, with low-income groups showing particularly significant declines.