By the beginning of his fourth year, a child is much stronger, better coordinated, and adept at communication than he was two years before. He will make another huge developmental leap as a preschooler. You can help promote this growth, especially if you understand the basics of preschoolers' development presented in this book. In the book's first part, readers will learn about preschoolers' motor skill development and ways to foster it through movement, manipulation, and interaction with others. Parts two and three discuss preschoolers' psychosocial and intellectual development, and their rapid growth in language and literacy. Understanding Preschooler Development is one of a series of three practical, easy-to-read child development handbooks adapted from The Young Child, a textbook used in academic programs nationwide. Each book focuses on a specific age group. Written for child care providers in any setting, the set provides a complete overview of key theories and research on child development. Understanding Preschooler Development explains: * The impact and long-term effects of biology and environment on early brain development in preschoolers * How preschoolers learn * Important theories of child development in preschoolers * How early life experiences lay the groundwork for preschoolers' developing language acquisition and thinking * The effects of nurturing care on preschoolers' emotional development and stability in later life * Milestones and windows of opportunity for preschoolers' development