43 Things your child should know and do by age three
We also highlight when you should be concerned and speak to a paediatrician.
It’s natural for proud parents to keep a tab on all the amazing milestones their baby hits. But parental pride aside, it’s important for you to have an idea about what your child should know and be able to do, as they reach certain ages. And if you’ve been asking yourself the question, “what should my child know by age 3?”, we’ve got you covered with our list.
But as you read through, please keep in mind that these milestones are not set in stone. Each child develops at their own pace.
What should your three-year-old know?
What should my child know by age 3? Here are 43 things
For ease of reading, we’ve divided this list of “What should my child know by age 3” into categories, based on the different areas of development. We’ll also highlight red flags at the end of the list, so you know when to see a doctor.
What should my child know by age 3? Physical development
1. Walks up and down stairs using alternating feet
2. Rides a tricycle
3. Walks in a straight line
4. Can walk on tippy toes
5. Runs a short distance without falling
6. Easily climbs up low furniture
7. Walks forwards and backwards easily
8. Can kick and throw a ball well
9. Bends over without falling
10. Can help put on and take off clothes
11. Hops and stands on one foot for up to five seconds without falling
12. Can hold cutlery and feed himself (but might still create a mess!)
Your three-year-old child is probably a little chatterbox and asks many, many questions!
What should my child know by age 3? Language skills
13. Says his or her name and age
14. Answers simple questions
15. Tells little stories
16. Speaks 250 to 500 words
17. Talks quite clearly, although they may not be fully comprehensible until age 4
18. Uses five to six words in a sentence
19. Asks simple questions
Your three year old should be able to identify basic colours and shapes
What should my child know by age 3? Cognitive skills
20. Completes simple puzzles
21. Remembers what happened the day before
22. Counts to five
23. Can match objects
24. Identifies basic shapes
25. Pays attention for up to five minutes
26. Follows simple instructions
27. Correctly names familiar colours
28. Understand time better (morning, night)
29. Understands the idea of “same” and “different”
30. Starts to engage in pretend play
What should my child know by age 3? Hand and finger skills
31. Can easily turn a page of a book
32. Handles and picks up smaller objects with ease
33. Can use age-appropriate scissors
34. Writes a few capital letters
35. Can copy circles and squares (not perfectly)
36. Builds a tower with four or more blocks
Your little one will be more friendly and less-tantrum prone for sure. But don’t be surprised by occasional outbursts or refusal to play with other kids.
What should my child know by age 3? Emotional and social skills
37. Imitates you or other family members
38. Throws fewer tantrums
39. Better understands the concept of sharing
40. Shows affection to friends and family
41. Understands the concepts of “mine”, “his” and “hers”
42. Displays a wide range of emotions, such as being happy, sad or bored
43. Has an active imagination
Red flags to watch out for
Mums and dads, you know your child best. If you feel something is not quite right, trust your gut instinct and check in with your child’s paediatrician.
Additionally, you can watch out for these red flags when it comes to your three-year-old’s development.
- Cannot stack blocks or hold small objects
- Inability to hold or throw a ball, or ride a tricycle
- Uses “me” and “you” inappropriately, and cannot use more than three words in a sentence
- Drools most of the time and has trouble speaking
- Falls down frequently
- Has extreme separation anxiety still
- Does not make eye contact
- Refuses to interact or play (even side-by-side play) with other children
- Doesn’t understand simple commands, e.g. “Please bring the ball here.”
- Loses skills he or she had previously
Also read: Baby milestones in the first year
Reference: WebMD