Developmental Milestones for a Three Years Old Child
| |
Physical Development
| |
Your growing three year old is keeping you on your toes all the time. Isn’t it? He doesn’t require your help anymore as he can now manage to walk up and down the stairs, alternating his feet on each step. You have to keep a strict check on their activities, as they are prone to hurting themselves on falling. Manages to build a tower of 8 to 9 blocks and assembles simple puzzles in your presence. You draw a simple shape like a cross or a circle on a piece of paper, now let him hold the crayon and copy the same. What you observe? You see him doing it with ease. He walks with a better balance almost like an adult. Like an impatient one year old, doesn’t flip the pages of a book hurriedly. He turns the pages one at a time and enjoys manipulating clay in to his own desired shape.
|
Many three year olds like helping with simple household tasks. They might just carry a small bowl and hand it over to you, even drag a slightly heavier utensil and bring it to the kitchen or leave it half way on the floor. But they would definately try, as they often think about doing more than they are actually equipped to. Although steadily they do begin to understand their limits and potential.
|
| Self Care and Hygiene | |
Dressing up in simple pull-on clothes is no more a difficult task for a three year old. Learns to brush his teeth, although may not be able to do it perfectly and still needs to be watched over. Some children get better with developing a set pattern for bowel movements, while for few others it may take some more time. They begin to use the toilet independently but needs to be reminded and repeatedly asked for having washed their hands. They should however be attended by you or a caretaker in the process. You may routinely make her visit the bathroom before going to sleep. But, they are required to wear the diaper at night and be bedded on a sheet of plastic.
|
| Social, Intellectual and Emotional development | |
Little Noah is going to bid a short adieu to his mom, may be for just two hours to be baby-sitted everyday. Could you guess how would this separation affect her? Well, you’ve guessed it right. Initially, she would not be able to take up this new change in her routine so easily. It would be accompanied with cries and moans. But sooner, she would cope up with this separation anxiety. She would like the company of fellow children, playing not only beside them but also learning to take turns when directed and playing cooperatively with them.
|
A three year old child may also show greater affection and preference for one parent. He begins to understand the gender difference. May show signs of jealousy when he sees his parent showering affection on an elder sibling. His parent may be just doing it playfully but even this slightest attention and love being diverted to another child makes him insecure for a while.
|
| As he begins to understand the identities of others, he also learns words to associate with them. For e.g. Words like ‘you’ and ‘yours’ other than I, me and mine. He can also notice other people’s moods and feelings, begins to show empathy towards others. He would like to remain glued to stories or events that describe him or focuses him as the centre of attention. Also often enjoying endless chattering all by himself, a glimpse of his imagination. |  |
|
A child at around three years of age utters five to six short sentences linked with verbs and plurals. This often depicts a part of his thought process and not just commands that need to be fulfilled. About 75 to 80 % of his speech can be easily understood. Repeates common rhymes which would include the ones being taught and also picking up a catchy line or two from the jingles heard on television. His developing cognitive skills may even help him to sort out objects well on the basis of their colour and shape. They also begin to have a better understanding of concepts like (over, under, soon, later).Gets better in interpreting simple commands but also begins to reason out things by having (who, why and where) questions in his sentences. If taught, he can tell his age and gender along with his name.
|
A three year old may not be able to swiftly adapt to a rapid transition, if he is involved in an activity. Providing him some amount of time helps him absorb changes better. For e.g. if he is amidst completing his bowl of cereal and then you also got to leave urgently somewhere. Tell him, ‘time to wear you new clothes and shoes & we’ll go out, so get done with your bowl in 15 min’.Clubbing a command sentence with a gesture that makes him happy works well with many children.
|
It would be apt to consider the above mentioned milestones as guidelines to observe how your three year old is progressing. But you can also not refrain from agreeing to the fact that although children may sail through the same steps but their pace can be different. They may possess the capacity to learn certain things at certain ages but may not be able to accomplish it completely till that particular development stage is reached. So be patient, but watchful. If the developmental issues of your child are becoming a great cause of concern, then discuss them with her doctor.
|