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Growth & DevelopmentMONTH 36 - What's Going On This Month?Your ToddlerHaving gotten through the “Terrible Twos” you will find your 3-year-old is a very pleasant person to be around. Your toddler will love to talk and can use sentences of five or more words. S/he will be toilet trained, with an accident only once in a while. S/he will be able to dress him/herself, wash him/her body with guidance and brush his/her own teeth. S/he can put on his/her own shoes. S/he can walk up steps changing feet. S/he can ride a tricycle. S/he can make friends and play with them for a short while, instead of alongside them. S/he can open a door. S/he can turn one page at a time and repeat common rhymes. S/he can name at least one color correctly. Usually s/he can separate from you in familiar settings. S/he takes pride in his/her accomplishments. S/he will respond with pride when you notice positive behavior, such as being helpful, following a rule or doing something for him/herself. Jumps, gallops, tiptoes, and runs smoothly. Can throw a big ball and catch it. Sort two objects that match. Ask “what” and “why” questions. Pours from a pitcher or milk carton using both hands. Uses crayons with somewhat control. Often prefers to play alone. Shares and takes turns occasionally. Speaks about 1,ooo words. Uses 4 to 5 word sentences. Puts toys away without adult help. Caring For Your ChildYour 3-year-old will have an active imagination. S/he may have trouble sometimes falling asleep because of fears about the dark or about strange noises. Three-year-olds sleep an average of 12 hours a day and some may still need one afternoon nap. Colds and flu are common among toddlers, especially if they attend daycare or preschool. Be sure your child’s immunizations are up to date. Three-year-olds are very active and sometimes have scrapes or bruises. If your child is talking too loudly, appearing not to hear you or is not following simple directions, s/he may need her hearing or language skills assessed. By age 3, most children pick a dominant hand to use. If your child appears to be confused about which hand to use, s/he could be having some coordination problems. S/he is ready for regular Dentist check-ups. NutritionYour child has a lot of energy at this age. Give her a variety of foods to eat so s/he has enough energy to carry him/her through his/her busy day. Be sure your child is getting plenty of water to avoid dehydration. Growth and Development ActivitiesWhat games does your child like to play? The activities your child enjoys will tell you a lot about how s/he is developing. Children this age love to pretend. They like to have tea parties, pretend dress up and pretend to cook or do housework. Enjoy their world with them. Read to your child to help him/her expand his/her understanding of the world. Give your child large crayons and coloring books to color and paper to draw on. Give him/her beads to string or puzzles to work on to develop hand-eye coordination. Let your child help you set the table. Place one plate on the table for each person and then show your child how to put one fork by each plate, then one napkin by each for. What a good helper! Model when to use please, thank you, and sorry. Developing a Good Relationship With Your ChildPay attention to your child when s/he talks to you. It sends the message s/he is important to you. When you talk to your child, stop what you are doing and at eye level make eye contact with him/her. Teach limits by setting a few reasonable rules for your child to follow that are doable for his/her age and abilities. Remember that routines will help your toddler to learn to trust and have confidence in the world around him/her. Encourage your toddler to try new things. Try a new food. Learn a new game. Find a new friend. Trying new things will help them build a strong self-esteem. Information adapted from the following Resources:
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