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Age
3
Age three is starting to be time when you will not
have to deal with Miss Independent anymore and things should get
easier many ways during the third year. Most three year-olds can be
reasoned with and they will actually be willing to share their toys
with other children and take turns while playing. They will also want
to help you to get themselves dressed. Most children at age three are
toilet trained during the day, although it is common for some
occasional accidents while busy playing.
Behavior
Age three is starting to be time when you
will not have to deal with Miss Independent anymore and things should get
easier many ways during the third year. Most three year-olds can be
reasoned with and they will actually be willing to share their toys with
other children and take turns while playing. They will also want to help
you to get themselves dressed. Most children at age three are toilet
trained during the day, although it is common for some occasional
accidents while busy playing.
Behavior
Your three-year-old will ask you a lot of questions and
nothing is sacred.
Continue reading books to your child and limit
television viewing. Do not use the TV as a baby sitter or as a substitute
for interaction with your child. Watch children's programs with your child
when possible.
Use a computer and surf the internet together with your
child. By using the computer already at this age your child will get used
to a computer. Also learning to use the computer fully will be easier for
your child in the future when he is already used to seeing it being used
by you. You can buy educational software for the computer and let your
child learn and experience with the help of computer. You can also let him
play games that help learning
and are also entertaining at the same time. See our
guide for parents on safe
online surfing. Do not leave your child alone with the computer and
don't use a computer as a baby sitter.
Arrange times for safe running and exploring outdoors.
Allow your child to experience interaction with friends. Three-year-olds
are usually quite social and enjoy being with other 3-year-olds. This can
be accomplished in a preschool, play group or just having another child
over for a few hours.
It is also normal for children this age
to have imaginary friends. Parents can sometime use the children's
imaginary "playmate" to their advantage (like getting your 3-year-old to
do something you want them to do.)
Teach them the Value of Money:
Toddlers and Preschoolers
At this age children can sort coins, learn their value and begin
to understand how money gets converted into 'things.'
More...
Be careful how your say things to your child even
if you are just kidding since the 3-year-old can not always tell when
a parent is joking. For example, never threaten to leave a child at
the store when he or she misbehaves.
Tantrums,
no parent hates them more! More...
Your child may continue to use a security object (such
as a blanket, favorite stuffed toy, etc.). This is normal and the
youngster will give up the item when he or she is ready.
Keep family outings short and simple. Children have
a short attention span at this age and lengthy activities will cause
them to become irritable and tired.
The question of preschool usually comes up now.
Daycare has already been established for a family when both parents
work outside the home. Even for moms who stay at home with their
child, preschool a few mornings a week can be helpful. It gives mom a
welcome break and provides the child an opportunity to meet new
friends. The success or failure of preschool will depend upon
the child's maturity and the quality of the preschool.
Development
- Can name pictures in a book.
- Names at least one color.
- Knows his or her own name.
- Begins to use pronouns.
- Able to put on his or her own shirt, but will
need help with shoes and buttons.
- May be able to ride a tricycle.
- Can jump in place and stand briefly on one foot.
- Can open doors.
- Over 50 percent of the child's speech is
intelligible. There may be temporary episodes of stuttering
during this time.
- Understands such words as "cold,"
"tired," "hungry."
Feeding
Appetite is now a little bit better compared to a
few months ago, but it is still not what most parents think it should
be. "My child will not eat," is a familiar complaint heard
at the three year checkup. Remember, feeding problems may arise if
parents make their child eat more than the child needs to, or shows
too much concern in what the youngster eats. Your child will pretty
much be able to feed himself or herself.
Avoid
nuts, hard candy, uncut grapes, hot dogs or raw vegetables. Also
control sweets and avoid junk food.
Eat dinner together as a family whenever possible
and set up at least one meal a day where the whole family is together
without any outside distractions. It is important to have a family
routine because it gives the child a sense of security. During the
meals begin to teach your child proper table manners and encourage
conversation.
Turn
the TV off during meals.
Sleep
- An afternoon nap is usually still needed by the
3-year-old.
- Fears of the dark, thunder, lightning, etc. are
quite common at this age.
- Maintain a consistent bedtime and bedtime
routine. Using a night light, security blanket or toy are all
ways to help lessen nighttime fears.
- Read to your child when possible before
"lights out."
- Nightmares can wake a child up from sleep. The
nightmares can be triggered by changes or stress. Reassure your
child and put him or her back to bed.
Oral Health
Supervise brushing twice a day with a small amount
of fluoridated toothpaste. Check with your dentist when to have
check-ups for your child and is a fluoride supplement is recommended.
Stop pacifier use. It can harm the tee
Toilet Training
Your child's incentive to control their bladder and
bowel movements is to please you, the person they look to for love.
Therefore praise your child's accomplishments and let him know you
are pleased. When they have an "accident" just stay calm
and don't punish. If you show a sing of being distressed or angry
when they fail, training may be delayed.
Many 3-year-olds are trained during the day but still
do not stay dry at night. Others are completely trained. Remember,
the age a child uses the bathroom by himself or herself varies and it
is based only on a child's readiness to be trained and the positive
attitude of the parents.
Some
children may postpone having a bowel movement as a way to manipulate
their parents or because they are busy doing something else. Try not
to make an issue of this.
Car safety
KidsDirect
Car Seat Buying Guide
It is very important to have your baby in a
car
seat no matter where you are driving. Even if the place is just
around the block. Any child who weighs less than 60 pounds
should be put in a safety seat every time the child is in the car. It
is also a law in all 50 states. Put the baby car seat in the
back seat of the car. This is the safest place for a baby to be in
case of a car accident. If the car
seat is in the front an airbag may seriously injure the baby.
Fasten the harnesses on the car seat over the child's shoulders with
less than one inch of space. Do not put small
infants
in seats with rigid shields. When you are shopping for a car seat,
look for the ones that are approved by the Consumer Product Safety
Commission. For hot days you also want to make sure that the car is
always kept cool inside. Check the seat's temperature before you
place your child in it. You also want to cover the car seat with a
towel or blanket so exposed metal or plastic parts of the seat will
not burn your baby's skin if it happens to be a hot day.
The following age and weight guidelines will help
you choose the right car seat. Consult the manufacturer's
instructions foe exact figures.
- Birth to 9 to 12 months (or 20 pounds): Use an
infant or convertible seat facing backward.
- 9 to 12 months (or 20 pounds) to 4 years (or 40
pounds): Use a convertible or toddler seat in the forward-facing
position. KidsDirect
Car Seat Buying Guide
- 4 years (or 40 pounds) to 8 years (or 0 pounds):
Keep your child in a convertible or toddler seat as long as he or
she will fit. When your child has outgrown the seat, use one
of the following:
- If the car has a lap/shoulder belt in the
rear seat, use a booster seat that positions the lap/shoulder
belt alone if it fits properly. Secure the lap belt across
the child's hips. The shoulder belt should not cross the face
or front of the neck.
- Use the rear lap/shoulder belt alone if
it fits properly. It should not cross the face or neck or
ride up across the stomach. the belt should fit across the
child's hips.
- If no rear lap/shoulder belt is available,
use the shield-type booster seat restrained by the lap belt
in the car.
- If no other type of restraint is available,
use the lap belt. Position it low on the hips and adjust
snugly.
- 8 years and older (or 70 pounds and more): You
can use the car's protection system without a booster seat.
Safety
Responsibility for accident prevention will
gradually shift to your child as they grow older. It is still
necessary for parents to keep dangerous and poisonous items out of
their 3-year-old's reach and protect him or her from other indoor and
outdoor hazards.
Begin to teach your child his or her full name,
address and phone number and not to talk to strangers.
Always walk behind your car before backing out of
the driveway. Always supervise when your child is playing near a
street. Remember, a 3-year-old child does not understand danger or
remembers "no"; your child cannot be counted on to be aware
of outside hazards.
If you have a pool it must be
gated. Knowing how to "swim" does not make a child water-
safe at this age. Never leave a child unattended in a bathtub, even
for a few seconds. Ensure your child wears a life vest if boating.
Be careful of items that can be left a counter level
elsewhere, such as knives, scissors, cleaning agents, nail polish
remover, household repair items, weed killers, insecticides,
gasoline, oil, kerosene, lighter fluid and all medicines. Always keep
potentially poisonous things in the original containers. Never put
poisons in food containers or bottles.
Never buy toys or other objects that can cut or
ingested. Suffocation by plastic bags and balloons still occurs at
this age.
Never leave a child unattended in a car or a house.
Guidelines
for school readiness:
See
our Getting Ready for School Section
If you are not sure whether your child is ready for
kindergarten or not here are some signs that your child may show to
tell you that you will not have anything to worry about. He is ready.
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Your child plays well with other children and
takes turns, in other words have basic social skills
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Your child is able to follow directions
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He adjusts to simple rules regarding behavior and
can manage in a group
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Feeds and dresses himself
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Is able to separate from you for at least ½ day
Constipation
in children
Children
ages 3-5, requirements in a nut shell:
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opportunities to develop their motor skills finer
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encouragement of language through a lot of
talking, reading, singing
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activities that will develop a positive sense of
accomplishment and mastery
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opportunities to learn cooperation, helping,
sharing and social skills
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help and support with experimenting pre-writing
and pre-reading skills
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The Ages
