Important Things a 3 Year Old Should Know

As your toddler learns and grows, you no doubt want to make sure s/he is meeting all his/her developmental milestones. Here are all the important things a 3-year-old should know to make sure your little one is on the right track!

Things a 3 Year Old Should Know Through Personal Development

Physical Development

The first few years of life are filled with several monumental ‘first’ moments. To demonstrate, by the age of three, there are many physical milestones a child should reach. Check out the following list of physical achievements to gauge your child’s development.

  • Walk in a straight line
  • Run without tripping
  • Walk backward
  • Balance on one leg for more than five seconds
  • Jump
  • Skip/gallop
  • Pedal a tricycle
  • Turn pages in a book
  • Walk upstairs with alternating feet, with one foot on each step
  • Kick, throw, and catch a ball
  • Wash and dry their hands on their own
  • Dress with little assistance
  • Hold a writing utensil
  • Most children at this age will be able to write their name, write some letters of the alphabet, and draw simple shapes.
  • Voice should be becoming clearer and easier to understand by strangers
  • Cut paper with age-appropriate scissors
  • Turn door handles and twist caps on and off

In addition, between 18 months and three years, children are often ready to be potty trained. If your child is not yet trained, consider starting the potty training process to prepare them for preschool!

Emotional Awareness

At this age, children are not only becoming more aware of their own emotions, but also that of others.

For example, around three years of age, children will develop empathy for others, being more aware of others’ feelings. Additionally, children will start to show affection for others, in ways such as hugging a friend without being asked to do so.

Because your toddler is becoming more aware of his/her feelings, you can start to have him/her start identifying those feelings. For example, encourage him/her to say things like, “I’m happy,” or, “I’m sad,” and explain why s/he feels that way.

Moreover, as their imaginations expand and their social skills develop, three-year-olds will also stray from playing independently and begin playing with other children. Often, this will include group games and real-life games such as “house” or “school.”

Cognitive Skills

Your child’s cognitive skills will grow exponentially as he or she grows! For this reason, it’s important you are aware of the things s/he should know at this age. Following are some academic milestones a three-year-old should be able to accomplish.

  • Say name and age
  • Answer simple questions
  • Recite the alphabet
  • Identify basic shapes and colors
  • Tell stories
  • Count (to at least 10)
  • Know about 300-500 words as well as understand many others
  • Understand the difference and similarity between things and sort them accordingly
  • Complete age-appropriate puzzles
  • Understand time (morning, night, days of the week)
  • Follow 3-step instructions, such as, “Brush your teeth, put your pajamas on, and get into bed.”
  • Use basic grammar rules. Children may still mess up words that are exceptions to basic grammar rules, such as saying “mouses” instead of “mice.”
  • Ask a lot of questions, such as “why?” Be sure to be patient with them and encourage their curiosity.

Furthermore, by the time a child turns three, s/he should be speaking in full sentences of at least six words or more. By the age of four, s/he should be able to speak in complete sentences. Your little one will grow a lot in the next year!

Should You Be Concerned if Your 3 Year Old Doesn’t Know All These Things?

Not every child develops at the same rate. Therefore, if your little one isn’t hitting some of these milestones, it may be because s/he is just progressing at a different rate.

However, if your child is displaying signs such as the following, consider talking to your child’s doctor.

  • Frequently falling
  • Unable to walk up or downstairs
  • Has trouble holding a writing utensil, scribbling, or drawing a circle
  • Speaks only in sentences that are less than three words long
  • Not interested in playing games with others and not engaging in imaginative play
  • Doesn’t understand simple commands
  • Doesn’t want to play with others
  • Avoids eye contact
  • Can’t work simple toys
  • Cannot dress/undress him/herself
  • Loses skills s/he once had
  • Persistent drooling or unclear voice

Encourage Childhood Development with the Right Primary School!

There are so many important things a 3-year-old should know! Your little one is growing so fast, so it’s important to nurture that growth with love and care. That’s why it’s important to find the best toddler program or preschool for your precious son/daughter!

Smaller Scholars Montessori Academy has a toddler program for kids 18 months-3 years old and a primary program for children 3-6 years old. In the toddler program, children are taught through fun activities in the subjects of art, music, dance, and practical life lessons. The staff at Smaller Scholars knows that kids at this age are like sponges, so they foster a love of learning through positive engagement!

In the primary program, children learn to develop essential skills, such as time management, personal responsibility, self-awareness, independence, and social awareness. In this enriching environment, your 3-year-old has the opportunity to learn from older children.

In the end, this top-notch Montessori school will help your 3-year-old meet important milestones now and in the years to come! Contact Smaller Scholars Montessori Academy today to learn more!