Fine motor skills include turning pages of a book and learning to write and draw. The most important physical development during early childhood is the brain and nervous system growth. The average preschool child requires 1700 calories per day. Well balanced meals are important in this stage because their diet affects skeletal growth, body shape and susceptibility to disease. Cognitive Development From 2-7 years of age children form stable concepts and mental reasoning begins to develop.
Egocentrism starts out strong in early childhood, but weakens.
Magical beliefs are constructed. Starting school is a major landmark for children this age. As children seek greater autonomy, temper tantrums sometimes appear, though often subside with age. Discipline and style of parenting is an important developmental influence. The child develops a sense of self around the end of the second year.