Your Child’s Development at 3 years old
Social / Emotional
Copies adults and friends
Shows affection for friends without prompting
Takes turns in games
Shows concern for crying friend
Understands the idea of “mine” and “his” or “hers”
Shows a wide range of emotions
Separates easily from mom and dad
May get upset with major changes in routine
Dresses and undresses self
Physical Development
•Climbs well
•Runs easily
•Pedals a tricycle (3-wheel bike)
•Walks up and down stairs, one foot on each step
Language / Communication
Follows instructions with 2 or 3 steps
Can name most familiar things
Understands words like “in,” “on,” and “under”
Says first name, age, and sex
Names a friend
Says words like “I,” “me,” “we,” and “you” and some plurals (cars, dogs, cats)
Talks well enough for strangers to understand most of the time
Carries on a conversation using 2 to 3 sentences
Cognitive (learning, thinking, problem-solving)
Can work toys with buttons, levers, and moving parts
Plays make-believe with dolls, animals, and people
Does puzzles with 3 or 4 pieces
Understands what “two” means
Copies a circle with pencil or crayon
Turns book pages one at a time
Build towers of more than 6 blocks
Screws and unscrews jar lids or turns door handle
Act Early by Talking to Your Child’s Doctor if Your Child:
•Falls down a lot or has trouble with stairs
•Drools or has very unclear speech
•Can’t work simple toys (such as peg boards, simple puzzles, turning handle)
•Doesn’t speak in sentences
•Doesn’t understand simple instructions
•Doesn’t play pretend or make-believe
•Doesn’t want to play with other children or with toys
•Doesn’t make eye contact
•Loses skills he once had