Your 3-year-old: Development, behavior and parenting tips

Aug 10, 2010 3:31 PM by Beth Stewart

Posted in Parenting / Parenting Tips & Advice / Child Development & Health

Parenting Feisty
3-Year-Olds

Most people agree that that raising a child is not an easy task. We parents don't get issued a rulebook or guidelines which guarantee raising a happy well-balanced adult. Parents of young children almost always worry now and then about their parenting skills but if you are aware of what to expect from your 3-year old as far as development, milestones and normal behavior go, you'll both enjoy that journey to four.

3 Year Old with Crayons

You've survived your child's babyhood and also the thorny journey through the unmistakably difficult terrible twos. Now he's three and you hope for smoother sailing.

You look at your beautiful child and realize he's become a smarter but more demanding... and probably impolite and a self-centered little person. You might ask yourself these questions. Am I too lenient? Too strict? Is my child doing what he should be at this age?

WHAT'S NORMAL BEHAVIOR FOR A THREE YEAR OLD?

Hurray! Social skills, both fine and gross Motor and Language skills have improved. If you know what's coming, what's normal and what milestones to expect the future is less uncertain.

THREE YEAR OLD DEVELOPMENTAL MILESTONES

3-YEAR-OLD SOCIAL SKILLS

no longer a toddler
has become more independent
less selfish than two and exhibits less aggressive behavior
more aware of and sensitive to the feelings of others
more responsive to other children and able to develop friendships
capable of taking turns and sharing toys
will begin to identify with his own sex and traditionally related activities
more interested in structured games
spends much of his time in fantasy activity and will have imaginary friends. This is actually a very creative way for your child to sample different activities behaviors and emotions
sense of time has become clearer and he'll know his daily routine and will try to figure out the routines of others
will have a capacity to understand his own place spatially amongst the family and is able to view you as a separate person
wants to please you - - will be less dependent on you because his sense of identity is growing stronger
will exhibit a feisty attitude on occasion and resist your requests

>> How to keep your toddler in bed

3-year-old MOTOR SKILLS

losing his baby fat, developing more muscle control and gaining in height
is quite agile and can catch a ball and ride a tricycle easily
will be interested in tools such as scissors, paper, paint and crayons
concentration is required when learning to master precision finger and hand movements

3-year-old LANGUAGE SKILLS

will have mastered the basic rules of language and should have an active vocabulary of 300 plus words - - able to talk in sentences of five or six words and imitate most speech sounds but still has thoughts and emotions that can't be conveyed through language
can understand pronouns now
may mispronounce and will become extremely frustrated when he is not understood

>> Delayed speech in three year old is a problem

Next page: 3-year-old parenting and survival tips

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Tags: 3 year olds age 3 child development preschooler toddlers

Comments

Comments on "Your 3-year-old: Development, behavior and parenting tips"

my three year old grandson, has been put into a nursery from 8am to 6pm, he wees and poos himself I think because he is distressed at being dumped there by a mother who is living like a single person. He gets very upset when they try to change him, and is not drinking much so he doesn't have to use the loo. He's even more upset if he has to open his bowels, at nursery and at home. His mother tells him off for it when I believe it is her fault in the first place. He doesn't do it with me, but how can I help him away from me. I don't want him to get into trouble and worry, his mother won't listen to anyone else. HELP

I'm a stepmother of a 3 year old,who lost her mom in 2010 October&I got married to her dad in September 2011,we were fine during the months when I visited their home&she was the most sweetest thing ever existed,but then she changed totally even to her nanny,she became very very stubborn,rude and utter strange things for a 3 year old,I love my step daughter and need her to grow in a happy home,but it's difficult,I need help.She wees at night no matter how many times she's been wakened to go to the loo,her stubborness leads her to go to the loo and just sit there,please help.

My 3 yr old grandson is out of control, He use to smeer his poop on bedroom wall, Doesn't eat and when he does it is cake,candy sugar. He is bouncing of the way until 2am, gets up at 9 or 10 am. Is this normal???

My 3 year old boy both speaks in jibberish and is very interested in his private areas. I figure the jibberish is part of his fantasy world, and I tell him it is not ok to touch himself unless he is in his room or the bathroom and he washes his hands. We do not allow him to touch his rear, because of hygene. He has trouble following that rule.

My 3 year old daughter can speak well and is very smart, however, she continues to talk in jibberish language when singing a song or playing with her toys. My wife and I discourage her from doing this and ask that she sing or speak using her words that we understand. Could this be a control issue to get a response from the parents?

my almost 3 year old grandson has lived with us since he was 1. recently, he has begun to touch himself alot and constantly takes off his pull up to do so. is that normal to be so centered on that ?

my three year old is very smart. She can count to 20, say the alhpbet and many more...