As 3-year-olds’ attention spans lengthen and their language skills strengthen, they’ll become better able to follow instructions and express their needs and wants. However, the transition from toddler to preschool can often be a bit bumpy. You’ll experience your fair share of meltdowns and tantrums, but understand that they come with a toddler’s silliness and creativity, both of which provide a ton of fun. In this rticle we discuss about some important Parenting Tips.
◇ Physical Development
Three-year-old children are not only growing taller and heavier, but their gross and fine motor skills are also developing. Because each child’s physical development is different, the degree to which they master these skills varies from person to person.
As toddlers grow, they learn more about their bodies and how to control them. Their sense of balance improves.
Through practice, your child will be able to do things they couldn’t do before.
★ Key Features
Gross motor skills: Most 3-year-olds can walk in a straight line, maintain their balance on a low balance beam, jump and run, and walk backwards. They can usually ride a tricycle, grab a large ball, and jump with both feet.
Fine motor skills:Three-year-olds can usually wash and dry their hands, dress themselves independently, and turn the pages of a book by themselves. Most preschool children can hold writing instruments with their fingers rather than their fists.
Key highlight: Some 3-year-olds can learn how to use the toilet.
Parenting Tips
Running, climbing, jumping, and constant movement can be difficult for some 3-year-olds to keep up with. You might want to tell your child to “stay still,” but allow them the freedom to run, climb, and jump—this is essential. Preschoolers need to practice their physical skills so they can better develop their balance and coordination.
◇ Emotional development
As toddlers learn to cope with stress, temper tantrums tend to peak at this age. Therefore, even if your 3-year-old insists on independence and has opportunities to try things on their own, they may struggle to cope with frustration.
Some 3-year-olds have difficulty separating from their caregivers. Therefore, children may cry when you drop them off at daycare; even if they enjoy daycare, they may express sadness about going there.
★ Key Features
Young children begin to understand their own and others’ emotions. They may use simple expressions such as “I’m crazy,” “I’m sad,” or “I’m happy” to let you know how they feel.
Learn to share and take turns, but you may not always enjoy doing so.
Parenting Tips
In your daily conversations with your toddler, use words that describe feelings, such as sadness, madness, and joy. By helping toddlers build an emotional vocabulary, they can more easily learn how to express their emotions using their own language.
◇ Social Development
Around the age of 3, children’s interactions with other children also begin to change. This change typically involves toddlers moving away from parallel play (where toddlers play close to each other) and towards group or interactive play (cooperating and playing with others). This means they also need to learn how to manage their relationships with each other.
In addition, although toddlers still have adult caregivers they are particularly attached to and don’t want to let them out of their sight, they are already able to begin forming genuine friendships with new friends (sometimes “imaginary friends”). Preschool children are easily influenced by what they love, so they often imitate their favorite characters from television or books.
★ Key Features
◉When a peer is hurt or upset, young children begin to show empathy and may even try to comfort that person.
◉ If a young child feels that he or she has been wronged by another child or sibling, he or she may start tattling.
◉ Young children express their feelings for others (e.g., giving a friend a hug without being prompted).
Parenting Tips
Young children begin to understand the difference between “we” and “yours,” so you may find it difficult for your child to share with friends. The best approach is to encourage your child to solve this problem themselves, rather than forcibly dictating which child gets to play with which toy. If a toddler becomes aggressive, you need to intervene and address the issue.
◇ Cognitive Development
Cognitive development in 3-year-olds involves more than just learning the alphabet or how to count; it encompasses the entire learning process of absorbing information, such as asking questions, and processing and understanding information.
Most 3-year-olds absorb everything around them like sponges. As parents, please help them learn how to process this information properly. Because at this age, if toddlers can sit quietly and maintain their attention for extended periods, they can absorb even more from their surroundings.
Your child’s thoughts and imagination will develop rapidly this year. As their memory develops and their understanding of the world deepens, they will ask you many questions, some of which you may not be able to answer. Please try to be patient with your child’s questions, as this is how they learn about the world.
◇ Speech and Language
A three-year-old can master about 300 spoken words, but the number of words they can understand is far more than that. They can not only express themselves in simple sentences, but their comprehension is also developing rapidly.
◇ Play
As mentioned above, 3-year-olds can begin to cooperate with other children and develop friendships, learning to take turns instead of playing alone. Therefore, you may see your child start engaging in simple games or activities that require patience.
★ Key Features
◉I enjoy listening to stories and have even started trying to “read” independently.
◉ Recognize basic shapes and colors
◉Can read the alphabet
Parenting Tips
To help your child continue to develop their language skills, please maintain regular conversations with them. You can answer their questions and ask them questions in return. You can also read books together and talk about the characters and stories.
◇ When should you pay attention?
The developmental pace of a 3-year-old varies from child to child. Typically, children who are slightly behind will catch up with their peers in the near future. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that you talk to a doctor promptly if your child exhibits any of the following signs:
◉Drooling or very unclear speech
◉ Cannot play with simple toys (such as pegboards, simple puzzles, or toys with rotating handles)
◉Cannot speak in complete sentences
◉Not understanding simple instructions
◉ Can’t play pretend games
◉ Doesn’t want to play with other children or doesn’t want to play with toys
◉Not making eye contact
◉Frequent falls or difficulty climbing stairs
◉ Loss of skills they once mastered
Message from Admin
The developmental characteristics mentioned above are not static; every child is unique. Your child may not reach all of these milestones by age 3, or they may develop faster than usual. However, if you have any concerns about your child’s development, please talk to your pediatrician or preschool teacher promptly.
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