Physical Development of Three-Year-Olds
Gross-Motor Development
Three-year-olds can:
-throw, jump, and hop.
-climb and descend stairs easily.
-walk up stairs with alternating feet.
-catch large balls.
-will eventually be able to catch bouncing balls, too.
-ride and steer tricycles.
-walk heel-t-toe for four steps.
-balance on one foot for up to eight seconds.
-hop on one foot up to three times.
Fine-Motor Skills
Three-year-olds can:
-hold and work scissors.
-cut along a line while staying within half an inch of the line.
- have better drawing skills.
-draw a copy of a shape shown to them.
-enjoy drawing faces.
-draw facial features (head, nose, eyes, and ears) in the correct place.
-enjoy playing with blocks.
-build small towers and construct simple puzzles.
Self-Help Skills
Three-year-olds can:
-do daily routines almost by themselves.
-turn on and off the faucet, if they can reach it.
-dress themselves and put shoes on without laces.
-use knives safely and pour liquid from small pitchers.
-almost have full control over toilet routines.
Cognitive Development of Three-Year-Olds
Language Comprehension Skills
Three-year-olds can:
-give you two objects upon request.
-follow simple directions.
-begin to understand pronouns.
-ask more questions to learn.
Expressive Language Skills
Three-year-olds can:
-use more than 900 words.
-make four or five word sentences.
-begin to understand the difference between past and present tense.
-start to understand possessive nouns.
-start to use question words, especially why and when.
-frequently talk to themselves.
Math Readiness Skills
Three-year-olds can:
-start to understand concepts like full, more, less, smaller, and empty.
-begin to learn how to count.
-distinguish between one and many objects.
-if you ask, they can give yo two objects.
Social-Emotional Development of Three-Year-Olds
Social Development
Three-year-olds are:
-eager to help others, especially adults.
-learning new ways of showing concern for others.
-playing with other children instead of next to them.
-will share with others better than two-year-olds.
-beginning to learn gender roles.
-beginning to learn how to treat members of the opposite sex.
Emotional Development
Three-year-olds are:
-have strong visible emotions.
-eager to please others.
-develop control over their emotions.
-less likely to become frustrated because they are more capable.
-more likely to get mad at objects instead of people.
-beginning to develop self-concept.
-less frightened of things they know but can be fearful of imagined dangers.
-very affectionate and seek it in return.
-learn to express their feelings by watching what adults around them.
-often imitate your behavior.
Teaching Three-Year-Olds
Three-year-olds are:
-typically happy, sociable, and agreeable.
-likely to accept your suggestions.
-enjoy playing alone and in groups of two or three.
-can introduce themes into their play.
-supplies in the room will influence their dramatic play.
-becoming increasingly independent.
-need to do things for themselves and need encouragement.
-need to feel that they can do things for themselves.