Child Growth: Toddler 3 Years (Child Development Information) - Child Development

3 Years

EATING
Some preschoolers are content eating everything from onions and pickles to sucking on lemons. Others are sensitive to strong flavors and spices, can easily be put off by a food's texture or smell, and may be hesitant to try new foods. In either case, many children this age want to eat the same thing at every meal. You can try to encourage your child to taste new foods by offering them alongside old favorites, and only putting very small first servings on their plates. To generate a little additional enthusiasm, include your child whenever possible in the shopping for meals, as well as their planning and preparation.

While eating sugar has not been proven to make children bounce off the walls, it is nonetheless a good idea to limit your child's sugar intake as a part of a good nutritional and dental health program. That said, it is not recommended that children be given sugar substitutes in place of sugar unless they have a special dietary problem, such as diabetes, that precludes sugar. In such a case, the nutritional changes should obviously be discussed with your child's doctor.

Children need fat in their diets. However, many get far too much, and in many instances, preschoolers can benefit from parental limitation (not elimination) of their daily fatty food intake. Grains, fruits, and vegetables, along with enough protein to ensure proper growth, should be offered and discussed as making up a healthy diet. Parents should also pay attention to calcium — from most commonly given in the form of milk, cheese, and other dairy products — from since it is a necessary component of healthy bones and teeth. Three-year-olds will still need snacks between meals, so it is helpful to have an array of healthy snacks available--raw carrots, sliced apples, cubed cheese, or boxes of raisins. Be aware that even though 3-year-olds can eat just about anything, choking is still a real threat.

If your child is eating well, a multivitamin is probably not necessary, but it might be appropriate for a picky eater. Discuss your child's eating habits and the need for vitamins with your child's doctor.

SLEEPING
Making sure that preschoolers get adequate sleep is extremely important, both for their general demeanor and yours! While some 3-year-olds can get by without a nap, most continue to take (and benefit from) at least an hour nap during the day. The average 12 hours of sleep a day that a child typically gets at age 3 gradually decreases to approximately 11 1/2 hours (with no nap) by the time the average child turns 4.

Getting them to sleep more may be easier said than done. Many children see bedtime only as the time when they have to leave parents, siblings, and a warm bright living room to enter their dark, quiet bedroom alone. If you have a preschooler who is less than eager to go to bed, you might find that the process is easier if you stick to a regular bedtime schedule, such as giving a 10-minute warning, followed by bath time, teeth brushing, a book (or two or three), and a good night rendition of "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star." Such rituals seem to be an important source of comfort for young children, and tend to work well.

PLAYING
Play is a great way for 3-year-olds to master new social skills, such as interacting with others and following rules.

While attending to the physical care of your preschooler, you will also find she thrives on a great deal of emotional and intellectual nourishment, and much of this comes from play. While manipulating simple household objects such as cardboard tubes and empty cartons, children give themselves valuable lessons in counting, cause and effect, and problem solving. And by finding new purposes for ordinary objects, they learn to think creatively.

Between 3 and 4 years of age, children make a big transition when it comes to play, moving away from parallel play towards a much more interactive form of play with others. When engaging in pretend play with other children, your child will learn about cooperation and sharing. Role-playing is an important way for preschoolers to attempt to understand the adult world. Talking aloud as they direct their own actions or those of other children is a way of sharpening their language skills.

Play also affords children the opportunity to act out their feelings. Young preschoolers often act out common household scenes. A parent's role in play begins with offering a variety of experiences. Outings as simple as a trip to the post office can be a source of fascination to a preschooler. Even more important is your participation in your child's games. If you suggest a tea party, for example, and hold a cup to the doll's mouth, the child is likely to mimic you, then go on from there. Your praise of your child's efforts is very important. Display creations whenever possible, whether by magnet on the refrigerator or framed and hung on the wall.

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