Developmental milestones record – 3 years

This article describes the skills and growth markers that are relevant to 3-year-olds.

Physical and motor milestones for a typical 3-year-old include:

• Gains about 4 to 5 pounds (1.8 to 2.25 kilograms)
• Grows about 2 to 3 inches (5 to 7.5 centimeters)
• Reaches about half of his or her adult height
• Has improved balance
• Has improved vision (20/30)
• Has all 20 primary teeth
• Needs 11 to 13 hours of sleep a day
• May have daytime control over bowel and bladder functions (may have nighttime control as well)
• Can briefly balance and hop on one foot
• May walk up stairs with alternating feet (without holding the rail)
• Can build a block tower of more than 9 cubes
• Can easily place small objects in a small opening
• Can copy a circle
• Can pedal a tricycle
  
  

Sensory, mental, and social milestones include:

• Has a vocabulary of several hundred words
• Speaks in sentences of 3 words
• Counts 3 objects
• Uses plurals and pronouns (he/she)
• Often asks questions
• Can dress self, only needing help with shoelaces, buttons, and other fasteners in awkward places
• Can stay focused for a longer period of time
• Has a longer attention span
• Feeds self easily
• Acts out social encounters through play activities
• Becomes less afraid when separated from mother or caregiver for short periods of time
• Fears imaginary things
• Knows own name, age, and sex (boy/girl)
• Starts to share
• Has some cooperative play (building tower of blocks together)

At age 3, almost all of a child’s speech should be understandable.

Temper tantrums are common at this age. Children who have tantrums that often last for more than 15 minutes or that occur more than 3 times a day should be seen by a provider.

Ways to encourage a 3-year-old’s development include:

• Provide a safe play area and constant supervision.
• Provide the necessary space for physical activity.
• Help your child take part in — and learn the rules of — sports and games.
• Limit both the time and content of television and computer viewing.
• Visit local areas of interest.
• Encourage your child to help with small household chores, such as helping set the table or picking up toys.
• Encourage play with other children to help develop social skills.
• Encourage creative play.
• Read together.
• Encourage your child to learn by answering their questions.
• Provide activities related to your child’s interests.
• Encourage your child to use words to express feelings (rather than acting out).