Final answer:
The average number of breaths per minute for a preschooler aged 3-5 years is likely between 20 to 30, reflecting a rate that is slower than an infant's but higher than that of older children.
Step-by-step explanation:
The average number of breaths per minute for a preschooler aged 3-5 years differs slightly from that of infants and adolescents. While infants under 1 year of age have a normal respiratory rate between 30 and 60 breaths per minute, and by 10 years old the rate slows down to 18 to 30 breaths per minute. By adolescence, the respiratory rate aligns with adults at 12 to 18 breaths per minute. Given this information, we can infer that preschoolers (3-5 years old) typically have a respiratory rate that is less than that of an infant but higher than that of an older child. Therefore, the average respiratory rate for preschoolers would likely fall between 20 to 30 breaths per minute.