3 Year Old
Sensory and Thinking Skills:
· Recognize sounds in the environment
· Pay attention for about 3 minutes
· Remember what happened yesterday
· Know what is food and what is not food
· Know some numbers (but not always in the right order); count 2-3 objects
· Know where things usually belong
· Understand what “1” is
· Understand “now,” “soon,” and “later”
· Laugh at silly ideas (like “milking” a dog)
· Look through a book alone
· Match circles, squares, an object to a picture of that object, objects that have same function
· Avoid some dangers (hot stove; moving car)
· Follow simple one-step commands
· Object to major changes in routine, but is becoming more compliant
· Begin to separate more easily from parents
Motor/Self-Help Skills:
· Feed self with some spilling; hold a glass in one hand
· Dress self with help; put on shoes (not tying)
· Use toilet with help; wash and dry hands by him/herself
· Climb well, run easily, bend over easily without falling, jump with both feet
· Walk down stairs alone, placing both feet on each step; upstairs alternating feet with help
· Walk on tiptoes if shown how
· Swing leg to kick ball, try to catch a large ball
· Pedal tricycle
· Hold crayon well; make vertical, horizontal, and circular strokes
· Turn book pages one at a time
· Build a tower of more than 6 blocks
· Screw and unscrew jar lids, nuts, and bolts
· Turn rotating handles and open doors
Language and Social Skills:
· Use 3-5 word sentences
· Ask short questions
· Use words to communicate wants and needs
· Show frustration when not understood
· Strangers can understand most of words
· Use plurals (“dogs,” “cats”)
· Name at least 10 familiar objects; 1 color
· Imitate housework or help with simple tasks
· Ask to use the toilet almost every time
· Enjoy being read to
· Talk about feelings and mental states (such as remembering)
· Demonstrate some shame when caught in a wrongdoing
· Try to make others laugh
· Play spontaneously with 2-3 children in group
· Assign roles in pretend social play (“You be mommy,” “I be daddy”)
· Know first and last name
· Understand “I,” “you,” “he,” and “she”
· Believe everything centers around them (“If I hide my eyes, no one will see me”)
· Answer whether she/he is a boy or girl
Red Flags:
· Frequent falling and difficulty with stairs
· Persistent drooling or very unclear speech
· Inability to build a tower of more than 4 blocks
· Difficulty manipulating small objects
· Inability to communicate in short phrases
· No involvement in pretend play
· Cannot feed self with spoon or drink from cup independently
· Failure to understand simple instructions
· Little interest in other children
· Extreme difficulty separating from primary caregiver