Two- and three-year-old children: development in the third year of life

Two- and three-year-old children: development in the third year of life
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He grows, he learns, he has more and more mastery of language and his body. For example, she begins to show more manual dexterity and understandably uses a hundred words. Once the two candles have been blown out, what are the main stages of development in the third year of life?



Taking that for granted each child is unique and grows at its own pace, that's what most boys and girls at this age can do.

On the social / emotional level:

  •  imitate adults and other children (especially older ones)
  •  show affection for friends and concern if a friend cries
  •  distinguishes what is "mine" from what is "his" or "his"
  •  easily separates from mom and dad
  •  manifests many emotions
  •  don't be surprised if changes in your daily routine can be destabilizing

On the linguistic / cognitive level:

  •  is able to follow instructions even with 2 or 3 steps
  •  can define most familiar objects
  •  converse by formulating 2-3 sentences
  •  play pretend ...
  •  makes puzzles with 3 or 4 pieces
  •  knows how to turn the pages of the book one at a time
  •  knows how to unscrew and screw the caps of the jars and open the door handles.

On the motor level:

  •  can pedal the tricycle (3-wheeled bicycle)
  •  goes up and down the stairs with one foot on each step
  •  manages to complete small puzzles and build small towers
  •  manages to copy the circles with the pencil
  •  he jumps
  •  he knows how to dress and undress himself

Moms and dads, here's what to do to support the baby's growth during this period

To be able to support your child you can:



  • Read aloud with your child: let it be a good daily habit.
  • Involving him in pretend games, it can also be useful for managing his emotions.
  • Stimulate his curiosity and help him explore his surroundings.
  • Ask to tell you his name and age.
  • Teach songs and nursery rhymes.
  • Count together when you take the stairs.
  • Praise him for positive behavior. Learn to deal with any whims.
  • Support him by teaching him how to manage his anger and his emotions in general.
  • Talk to your pediatrician about lifestyles: nutrition, physical activity, use of the TV.
  • Have patience at the table. If he refuses a food he had eaten quietly the week before, don't make a problem of it. It is normal for periods of greater to alternate with periods of less appetite. You will try that vegetable dish again and it will be better next time.
  • Keep the TVs out of his bedroom. And limit the time he can spend in front of the screen, including video games, to no more than 1-2 hours a day.
  • Encourage free play as much as possible. And possibly outdoors.
  • Create opportunities for him to play with children his own age.
  • Let me try to resolve the little "disputes" with friends on his own, but be ready to intervene to facilitate sharing or respecting shifts.

"A lot of childhood learning occurs by imitation. So what models they find in their environment are important," he explains Anna Oliverio Ferraris, psychologist, psychotherapist and professor of developmental psychology at the Sapienza of the city. "Children absorb, without reflection or reasoning, what is proposed to them, it is therefore good to remember that what we do, say or express - towards them but also between us - is noticed, absorbed and taken as a model. Let's take reading, for example. It is easy to motivate a child to book if from the earliest years of life he sees us with a book in his hand and listens to the stories we read to him. Fascinated by those stories and by our voice, gratified by our presence and by the time that we dedicate him, he will soon want to know where those words that attract him so much come from and, having discovered that they are contained in those small characters that accompany the figures in the book, he will want to learn to read and write them ".



  • Talk to your pediatrician about lifestyles: nutrition, physical activity, use of the TV.
  • Have patience at the table. If he refuses a food he had eaten quietly the week before, don't make a problem of it. It is normal for periods of greater to alternate with periods of less appetite. You will try that vegetable dish again and it will be better next time.
  • Keep the TVs out of his bedroom. And limit the time he can spend in front of the screen, including video games, to no more than 1-2 hours a day.
  • Encourage free play as much as possible. And possibly outdoors.
  • Create opportunities for him to play with children his own age.
  • Let me try to resolve the little "disputes" with friends on his own, but be ready to intervene to facilitate sharing or respecting shifts.

"A lot of childhood learning occurs by imitation. So what models they find in their environment are important," he explains Anna Oliverio Ferraris, psychologist, psychotherapist and professor of developmental psychology at the Sapienza of the city. "Children absorb, without reflection or reasoning, what is proposed to them, it is therefore good to remember that what we do, say or express - towards them but also between us - is noticed, absorbed and taken as a model. Let's take reading, for example. It is easy to motivate a child to book if from the earliest years of life he sees us with a book in his hand and listens to the stories we read to him. Fascinated by those stories and by our voice, gratified by our presence and by the time that we dedicate him, he will soon want to know where those words that attract him so much come from and, having discovered that they are contained in those small characters that accompany the figures in the book, he will want to learn to read and write them ".

Read also: The skills of two-year-olds

Moms and dads, here's what to do for your safety

  • Never leave your baby alone in the bath, swimming pool, soaking in sea water, in a pond or river. Even if the water is shallow, there must always be an adult to watch over. Drowning is the leading cause of accidents and deaths in this age group. If you have a swimming pool in the garden, use the appropriate fences.
  • Encourage the child to sit up when he eats (and chews) to prevent choking.
  • Check the toys often to make sure there are no broken parts.
  • Tell him not to put pencils or crayons in his mouth when he draws.
  • Do not drink hot drinks with your child in your arms. Sudden movements could cause the hot coffee or tea to spill and cause a burn.
  • For travel by car (even short) use the appropriate child seats.
Read also: Baby feeding 1-3 years

When to contact the pediatrician

Periodic health checks allow the pediatrician to monitor the growth of the boy or girl, and prevent or detect any signs of pathologies as soon as possible, evaluating motor skills, language, cognitive, psycho-affective and social development. .

Seek advice from your pediatrician if you notice:

  • Very frequent falls and problems with stairs.
  • Difficulty in expressing oneself, in being understood by strangers, in understanding simple instructions.
  • Who doesn't play pretend or make believe that ...
  • Who doesn't want to play with other children or with toys.
  • That he doesn't make eye contact, in other words he hardly ever looks other people in the eye.

A note of reassurance for parents, so that they are serene in accompanying the growth of their child by the hand, comes from Alessandro Ventura, director of the pediatrics department of the Hospital - University of Trieste: "be calm and don't let yourself be taken by the insecurity of making a mistake and not realizing that something is wrong".

"If a child is an object of love (and only if he is) he will invariably be the object of positive investments," he adds. "Whatever beautiful we think exists, we will spontaneously offer him or her, within the limits of our possibilities. Whether it is stories told or read together, high nutritional quality foods, teachers and protective environments and even dreams and fantasies for his future ".

Being and feeling loved is crucial to growing well and it will be "the eyes of love", according to the pediatrician, to best address the interventions of mom and dad to support the harmonious growth of the baby at home, in terms of cognitive development, social and psychological.

References

Your child at 3 years

Toddlers (2-3 years of age) - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Milestones: 25 to 36 months

Read also:

the development of the child in the third year of life

the development of the child between four and five years

the development of the child between six and eight years

the development of the child between nine and 11 years

the development of the child between 12 and 14 years

Questions and answers

What to do to support the growth of the child at three years old? 

Read aloud with your child. Involving him in pretend games, it can also be useful for managing his emotions. Talk to your pediatrician about lifestyles: nutrition, physical activity, use of the TV. Have patience at the table. Keep the TVs out of his bedroom. And limit the time he can spend in front of the screen, including video games, to no more than 1-2 hours a day. Encourage free play as much as possible. And possibly outdoors. Create opportunities for him to play with children his own age.

The child is three years old. When is it necessary to seek advice from the pediatrician? 

Ask your pediatrician for advice in the case of very frequent falls and problems with stairs or difficulties in expressing yourself, in making yourself understood by strangers, in understanding simple instructions. Also ask if she doesn't want to play with other children or toys or if she doesn't make eye contact, in other words if she hardly ever looks other people in the eye.

What is essential for the psychophysical well-being of a three-year-old child? 

Being and feeling loved is crucial for growing well and it will be "the eyes of love" that will best address the interventions of mum and dad to support the harmonious growth of the baby at home, in terms of cognitive, social and psychological development.

TAG:
  • child growth
  • 3-5 children years
  • child development
  • pediatrician
  • 1-2 children years
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