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Preschool Growth and Development at Santa Clara Parents Nursery School: Understanding Equilibrium & Disequilibrium

  • scpns
  • Oct 16
  • 2 min read

If you’ve ever wondered why your preschooler feels in sync one week and out of sorts the next, you’re not alone. At SCPNS, we often talk about equilibrium and disequilibrium — ideas rooted in the work of child development scholars like Jean Piaget and Arnold Gesell — because they help us understand the natural rhythm of preschool growth and development.


Two kids sitting on the seesaw in the playground. A girl sitting in the middle of the seesaw.

What Are Equilibrium and Disequilibrium?


Equilibrium is when a child feels comfortable and confident. Things “click,” behaviors feel smoother, and learning feels joyful. You might see your child being cooperative, curious, and relatively steady.

Disequilibrium happens when something new or challenging enters the picture. Children may seem more emotional, rigid, moody, or frustrated. Their behavior might look like regression — but it’s actually a sign of reorganization and deeper learning. They’re working to reshape their understanding of the world.

Here’s a simple example: A 4‑year‑old knows how to pour milk from a small cup — success! But then they try pouring from a big jug, and milk spills everywhere. Suddenly, their confidence is shaken. That’s disequilibrium. Through trial and error, and with your support, they’ll adjust — and eventually, a new equilibrium will emerge, now with a stronger skill set.


A boy squeezing a bottle of blue color-dyed water into a toy car track. Another boy watches with a bottle paint in his hand.


Cycles in Preschool Growth and Development


Growth doesn’t follow a straight line. Rather, preschoolers often move in cycles — alternating between equilibrium and disequilibrium. Gesell described how children shift between calmer, balanced periods and times of unrest. For example:

  • Age 3–4: A child may be cooperative, imaginative, and eager to please.

  • Age 4–5: They might suddenly become more rigid, emotional, or oppositional.

  • Age 5–6: Confidence often returns, along with greater independence and curiosity.

These patterns can repeat roughly every 6–12 months and are a natural part of preschool growth and development.


A girl touching a baby lizard that's inside a black tray. Three boys watching the lizard inside the tray.

How We Can Support Children (and Ourselves)


At SCPNS, we believe these shifts are expected — not a sign that something is wrong. They’re part of natural growth. Here’s how we can respond with gentleness and purpose:

  • Expect ups and downs — and understand that regression is often part of the process.

  • Offer extra patience, understanding, and space during tougher phases.

  • Keep routines steady and predictable as a grounding anchor.

  • Celebrate progress (even small steps), not just perfection.

  • Remind ourselves: disequilibrium isn’t a setback — it’s a turning point.

When we understand the rhythms of preschool growth and development, we can meet our children — and ourselves — with more compassion and confidence. One spill, one breakthrough, one rebalancing at a time, we journey with them and with one another.


A teacher holding a sapling and showing the roots of the plant. Five children seeing the plant and its roots.

Want to learn more? Ask your child’s teacher about the phases they’re observing, or come visit us, we’d love to talk about it more!




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