Development milestones: Your 3-year-old
BELOW is a guide for what you should be expecting from your three-year-old, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in their Milestone Moments guide.
What children do at this age
Social/emotional
– Copies adults and friends
– Shows affection for friends without prompting
– Takes turns in games
– Shows concern for a crying friend
– Dresses and undresses self
– Understands the idea of “mine” and “his” or “hers”
– Shows a wide range of emotions
– Separates easily from mom and dad
– May get upset with major changes in routine.
Language/communication
– Follows instructions with two or three steps
– Talks well enough for strangers
– Can name most familiar things to understand most of the time
– Understands words like “in”, “on”, and “under”
– Says first name, age, and sex
– Names a friend
– Says words like “I”, “me”, “we” and “you” and some plurals (cars, dogs, cats)
– Carries on a conversation using two to three sentences.
Cognitive (learning, thinking, problem-solving)
– Can work toys with buttons, levers and moving parts
– Copies a circle with pencil or crayon
– Turns book pages one at a time
– Plays make-believe with dolls, animals, and people
– Builds towers of more than six blocks
– Does puzzles with three or four pieces
– Screws and unscrews jar lids or turns door handle
– Understands what “two” means.
Movement/physical development
– Climbs well
– Runs easily
– Pedals a tricycle
– Walks up and down stairs, one foot on each step.
How you can help your child’s development
• Go to play groups with your child or other places where there are other children, to encourage getting along with others.
• Work with your child to solve the problem when he/she is upset.
• Talk about your child’s emotions. For example, say, “I can tell you feel mad because you threw the puzzle piece”. •Encourage your child to identify feelings in books.
• Set rules and limits for your child, and stick to them. If your child breaks a rule, give him/her a time out for 30 seconds to one minute in a chair or in his/her room. Praise your child for following the rules.
• Give your child instructions with two or three steps. For example, “Go to your room and get your shoes and jacket.”
• Read to your child every day. Ask your child to point to things in the pictures and repeat words after you.
• Give your child an “activity box” with paper, crayons, and colouring books.
• Colour and draw lines and shapes with your child.
• Play matching games. Ask your child to find objects in books or around the house that are the same.
• Play counting games. Count body parts, stairs, and other things you use or see every day.
• Hold your child’s hand going up and down stairs. When he/she can go up and down easily, encourage him/her to use the railing.
• Play outside with your child. Allow your child to play freely and without structured activities.
Act early by talking to your child’s doctor if your child:
– Falls down a lot or has trouble with stairs
– Drools or has very unclear speech
– Can’t work simple toys (such as peg boards, simple puzzles)
– Doesn’t understand simple instructions
– Doesn’t speak in sentences
– Doesn’t make eye contact
– Doesn’t play pretend or make-believe
– Doesn’t want to play with other children or with toys
– Loses skills he/she once had.
