Which statement is true about physical and motor development in preschoolers?

Which statement is true about physical and motor development in preschoolers?

• A. Preschool children are more balanced than adults.
• B. Preschool children's bodies have higher centers of gravity.
• C. Preschoolers have no balance challenges.
• D. Preschoolers' gross motor skills are fully developed by age 3.

Answer: (B)

Preschoolers’ bodies have higher centers of gravity. This reflects their body proportions in early childhood: the head and trunk are relatively large while the legs are still short, so more weight sits higher on the body. That top-heavy configuration makes balance trickier and posture more unstable, which is exactly what shows up in early childhood movement as kids learn to walk, run, and jump with developing control. As children grow and their legs lengthen, the center of gravity shifts downward and balance improves, so adults tend to be more stable and coordinated. The other statements don’t fit because preschoolers are not more balanced than adults, and balance challenges are common as they develop. Also, gross motor skills are not fully developed by age 3; these skills continue to mature throughout the preschool years and into early elementary school.

Preschoolers’ bodies have higher centers of gravity. This reflects their body proportions in early childhood: the head and trunk are relatively large while the legs are still short, so more weight sits higher on the body. That top-heavy configuration makes balance trickier and posture more unstable, which is exactly what shows up in early childhood movement as kids learn to walk, run, and jump with developing control. As children grow and their legs lengthen, the center of gravity shifts downward and balance improves, so adults tend to be more stable and coordinated.

The other statements don’t fit because preschoolers are not more balanced than adults, and balance challenges are common as they develop. Also, gross motor skills are not fully developed by age 3; these skills continue to mature throughout the preschool years and into early elementary school.