What should a child be able to do at age 3?

Congratulations, you've survived "the dreaded pre-three age!" Hopefully, you'll have the insight and energy to enjoy what lies ahead for you and your preschooler. Psychologists call age three and the next few years "the magic age" - partly because, as if by magic, your child has finally learned to listen to you, and partly because this is the time of your child's most rapid development. What should a child be able to do at age three?

Child at 3 years old - height and weight

At this age, the child does not grow as actively as before the age of one. And yet, at 3 years old, girls gain weight from 13 kg to 16 kg 700 grams. Boys can weigh from 13.7 kg to 16 kg 100 grams. If the child's weight does not reach these figures or is slightly more, there is no need to worry. It is worse if the child's growth is spurts: in one month he quickly gains weight, then just as quickly loses weight. Then you need to see an endocrinologist.

The height of a child at 3 years old varies from 90 cm to 1 meter. Boys grow slightly faster than girls.

In order for a 3-year-old child to grow and develop better, it is necessary to observe his sleep and rest regime. At 3 years old, a child should sleep at least 11 hours at night, and go to bed no later than 9 p.m. Daytime sleep has not yet been cancelled: such rest should be arranged for at least 1-1.5 hours.

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Child at 3 years old - speech development

If your child is not very talkative, then most likely the situation will change in the near future. At this age, speech develops quite quickly, and the child can catch up in just a month or two. At the age of 3 to 4 years, your child should be able to do the following.

• State your name and age
• Speak from 250 to 500 words
• Answer simple questions
• Form sentences of five to six words and speak in complete sentences
• Speak clearly
• Tell simple tales and stories

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Child at 3 years old: development of thought processes

Your 3-year-old is starting to ask lots and lots of questions. "Why is the sky blue? Why do birds have feathers?" Questions, questions, and more questions! While it may annoy parents from time to time, asking questions is completely normal at this age. That's why the ages of three to five are called the "why" age. In addition to constantly asking "why?" your 3-year-old should be able to:

• Correctly name familiar colors
• Play and imagine more creatively than before
• Perform three simple adult commands in a row
• Remember fairy tales and songs and tell the simplest of them
• Love fairy tales and songs, especially before bedtime
• Understand prime numbers and count to five
• Sort items by shape and color
• Guess riddles that are appropriate for the child's age
• Recognize familiar people and children in photographs

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Motor skills of a child at 3 years old

A child's motor skills at 3 years old continue to develop actively. From 3 to 4 years old, your child should be able to.

• Climb up and down the stairs, alternating legs - go step by step
• Kick the ball, throw the ball, catch it
• Jumping on one and two legs
• Quite confident in pedaling and riding a tricycle
• Stand on one leg for up to five seconds
• It's pretty easy to go back and forth
• Bend over without falling

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Motor skills of a child at 3 years old

Your baby is becoming more flexible and his fine motor skills are improving. At this point in his development, your baby should be able to do the following:

• Be interested in colorful books with large pictures and turn the pages of the book
• Use age-appropriate scissors and cut paper under adult supervision.
• Draw circles and squares
• Draw a person with two to four body parts (head, arms, legs)
• Write several capital letters
• Build a tower of nine or more cubes
• Dress and undress without assistance
• Twist and unscrew the lid on the jar
• Draw with multiple colors

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Child at 3 years old - emotional and social development

Your 3-year-old is becoming more independent physically and emotionally. He has fewer tantrums when you leave him with a babysitter or at daycare.

Additionally, your 3-year-old is becoming increasingly social. Your child can now play and make peace with his friends, take turns, and can demonstrate simple problem-solving skills for his first childhood problems.

At 3 years old, your child should have the following social skills.

• Imitate parents and friends
• Show affection to family and friends
• Understand what is "mine" and "his/hers"
• Show a wide range of emotions such as sadness, grief, anger, happiness or boredom

In addition, you may already notice that your child's imagination is developing more and more. This can be both good and bad for you. The fantasy and the plays that the child plays out become more interesting, but your child may also begin to demonstrate unrealistic fears, such as believing that a monster is hiding in his closet.

Child at 3 years old: when is there a reason to worry?

All children grow and develop at their own natural pace. Don't worry if your child is developing faster or slower. The key is to notice progress in their development as your child gets older. If you see that your child is still delayed, consult a doctor.

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Signs of developmental delays in three-year-olds include:

• Inability to throw a ball, jump in place, or ride a tricycle
• Frequent falls and difficulty walking up and down stairs
• Inability to hold a pencil between the thumb and next two fingers; cannot draw a circle.
• Cannot use sentences with more than three words and misuses the pronouns "I" and "you"
• The child often drools and has problems with speech.
• The child cannot add more than four cubes
• A child without adults may experience extreme anxiety.
• The child does not participate in games and does not like to fantasize
• A 3-year-old child does not play with other children and does not respond to family members
• The child has great problems with self-control when he is angry or upset. He often throws tantrums
• Doesn't understand simple commands from adults
• Avoids eye contact
• He cannot dress himself, sleep or go to the toilet.

If a child at three years of age refuses to do what he did before, this may also be a sign of a developmental disorder. To help your child in time, consult a doctor.

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