There are a number of milestones that most three-year-old children will have achieved. However, if your child hasn’t reached all of these markers by his fourth birthday, don’t panic. Some children are "late bloomers" and may just need a bit of extra time to catch up. There are development warning signs, though, that you can look out for and bring to your child’s doctor’s attention if you notice them.
Mental development
Can tell the difference between one and many; he may be able to count up to 10 things
Can identify some colors
Attention span increases by a few more minutes
Has a vague idea about time; has some understanding of terms like "yesterday", "not now", "later", "wait for a while"
Does not put everything in her mouth; can distinguish between food and toys
Follows simple commands like "don’t go there", "wait for me"
Starts with some kind of pretend play (a sheet of paper can become his airplane)
Can match similar shaped objects (circles, squares, etc.)
Identifies objects with functions; can pour juice from pitcher to cup
Can flip through a book by himself and can also match any object with its picture
Is cautious with some dangerous things like a burning stove or moving car
Social and Emotional Development
Knows "I" and differentiates it from "he", "she" "you" or "them"; understands what is "mine" and what is "his"
Knows if she is a boy or a girl
Understands her first and last name
Can play in groups of three
Imitates people around her, helps with simple tasks
Is almost toilet-trained
Is increasingly fond of familiar playmates
Can express her emotions openly by crying, screaming, laughing
Expresses her affection for a caregiver
Is not very anxious about separation; is willing to let mommy and daddy leave for some time
Physical/Motor Development
Is more efficient in building blocks; can manage a pile of 6 blocks
Does not need help in movements like jumping, climbing stairs, putting on shoes (not tying laces)
Is better at activities like playing catch and kicking a ball, running, pedaling a tricycle
Climbs, walks up and down stairs, kicks ball, runs easily
Can feed himself with some spilling
Has a better grip of pencil or crayon and can move crayons to draw up-and-down, side-to-side, and circular lines
Can open jars, door; can also steadily hold a glass
Is able to wash and dry hands without assistance
Can put on her clothes with some help
Language Development
Her vocabulary grows to accommodate 50 or more words
Says short sentences; uses a lot of "me", "my" and "mine"
Can follow 2-part commands like "close your eyes and smile"
If taught, picks up names of body parts like eyes, ears, and nose
He can make himself understood
Knows the "where" about things, whether the ball is "on the table" or if it is "in the drawer"
Knows pronouns, especially "me", "she", "we"; can also point out plurals of common words like "cats", "dogs"
Repeats rhymes
Names familiar objects
Developmental Alarms
If your child displays any of the following signs of possible developmental delay for this age range, go for professional development screening:
Cannot focus on things even for few seconds
Does not show reactions even around little children
Cannot make himself understood to a stranger, does not use short phrases
Poor pronunciation, deletes parts of words
Is not able to match similar looking shapes like circles
Has difficulty grasping a pencil or crayon
Has anger flare-ups or is destructive
Fails to notice other noises when involved in an activity
Doesn't engage in pretend play
Suddenly cannot do certain things she once could
Cannot comprehend simple instructions like "come here" or "keep it there"
