How your child plays, learns, speaks, and acts offers important clues about your child’s development. Developmental milestones are things most children can do by a certain age.

Check the milestones your child has reached by his or her 3rd birthday. Take this with you and talk with your child’s doctor at every visit about the milestones your child has reached and what to expect next.

What most children do at this age: Social and Emotional

   Copies adults and friends

   Shows affection for friends without prompting

   Takes turns in games

   Shows concern for crying friend

   Understands the idea of “mine” and “his” or “hers”

   Shows a wide range of emotions

   Separates easily from mom and dad

   May get upset with major changes in routine

   Dresses and undresses self

Toddler hugging doll Language/Communication

   Follows instructions with 2 or 3 steps

   Can name most familiar things

   Understands words like “in,” “on,” and “under”

   Says first name, age, and sex

   Names a friend

   Says words like “I,” “me,” “we,” and “you” and some plurals (cars, dogs, cats)

   Talks well enough for strangers to understand most of the time

   Carries on a conversation using 2 to 3 sentences

Cognitive (learning, thinking, problem-solving)

  Can work toys with buttons, levers, and moving parts

   Plays make-believe with dolls, animals, and people

   Does puzzles with 3 or 4 pieces

   Understands what “two” means

   Copies a circle with pencil or crayon

   Turns book pages one at a time

   Builds towers of more than 6 blocks

   Screws and unscrews jar lids or turns door handle

Movement/Physical Development

  Climbs well

   Runs easily

   Pedals a tricycle (3-wheel bike)

   Walks up and down stairs, one foot on each step