3 year old abilities

[kymmy]

What would you expect from a 3 year old?
i know my son will have a check up with the childhood nurse
before he attends pre-school
but i am curious to see what other bub hub
3 year olds are doing
my son is no where near being out of nappies
physically he is fine
and he has great conversation skills
and the vocabulary of any 5 year old child

[Chickadee]

Kymmy, your other post about your 6 year old got me curious about what my 2.5 year old should be capable of, and I just bookmarked the QLD 3 year old (http://www.health.qld.gov.au/phs/documents/cyhu/29098.pdf) page :)

There are quite a few things on there she can't do - like undo buttons, she's never touched a pair of scissors, has no interest in threading (though she can do it, just gets bored after one bead), and still is hopeless at jumping off both feet :roll eyes:

[Bessie]

How old do you mean, there's a huge difference between just turned 3 and nearly 4.
My 3 yr old is a November birthday. He wears nappies at night still, I am too pg to care if he can manage without yet! He still speaks a bit babyish but is very inquisitive and perceptive... he knows some letters, can nearly count to 10 and can climb allsorts of things. He threads beads onto scoobidoos with my DD but I couldn't see him tying a lace for a good while yet... can do some buttons but not all... can work the DVD and video player... can get himself dressed... loves scissors too much, he is banned! He doesn't really get that he shouldn't annoy the cat either, I am forever teaching him to be kind! He is very sweet and affectionate, happy to play on his own but has his little buddies too.

[RuthK]

My 3 year old son is slow on the speech front, but we're seeking help for that.

Apart from that he does the following:
Toilet training: wears nappies at night and tells us he's going to the toilet but sometimes doesn't make it (for no.2's) otherwise. Loves to wash and dry his hands after.
Counting, etc: He can count to 25, knows his alphabet and colours.
Physically: Attempts most play equipment. Can't master riding a bike yet. Loves to dance with his sister. Swims well with floaties on.
Interaction: Plays with his 2 year old sister and kids in kinder very enthusiastically in outdoor play. With indoor play he prefers to play by himself with his cars. Has a best friend who he asks about every day and loves playing with.
Feeding: He feeds himself with a fork. Drinks from an open cup. Steals food he likes from his sister's plate when she's not looking!
Affectionate: Gives cuddles and kisses regulary to all of us, including his baby brother. Loves hanging out on his tummy with his baby brother, to make the bub feel as though he's one of the gang.
Interests: any animals, cars, trains, boats, planes, books and kiddies tv shows.
Bad habits: learnt to spit (we're not impressed!) He ignores us to the point of exasperation (by us), lags behind when shopping (ie: I turn around and suddenly realise he's not there!).


Hope that helps.

[Starlet]

Toilet training: Fully toilet trained, although this didn't happen til he was 3 1/2, still has the occasional accident in his jocks.

Counting, etc: Can count to 30. Knows the alphabet, shapes, colours.

Physically: Likes to climb EVERYTHING, can run pretty fast and without falling over, balance on a balancing beam, ride a 3 wheeler bike, jumps off things(like the couch :banghead: ).

Interaction: Very active, can't sit inside and do one thing for long. Loves the outdoors, riding bikes, plaing in the sand pit. Asks to go to the park everyday to play. Plays games with other kids. Talks to absolutely EVERYONE!

Feeding: Makes little mess now, starting to have likes and dislikes in food. Can use a fork and spoon very well, learning how to use a knife.

Affectionate: Loves to hug people and sit close to people. Gives his step sisters cuddles and kisses when they arrive for their weekly stay. Gives step sister cuddles and comfort when she gets into trouble or hurt and is crying. Tells myself, my DP, his brothers and stepsisters and grandparents that he loves them.

Interests: Kids shows on TV, Superheros(spiderman, batman, superman), making up games(using his imagination), playing at the park, reading in bed with mummy.

Bad habits: learnt to spit(yep, my DS picked it up too), always putting his hand down his jocks, taking absolutely forever to do ANYTHING.

Speech: Can talk pretty well, you can have a proper convo with him most of the time. Has great manners :smiliedance: says please, thank you, excuse me, may I....

He can dress himself, does things I ask him to(like putting his dirty clothes in the washing machine...still yet to teach him how to separate whites from colours :laughing: )

[kymmy]

thankyou for your responses

my son turned 3 on 22 April
he is not toilet trained, maybe lazy
he is very affectionate
physically, he can do anything his older sister, 6, can do
strong and big (wears size 4-5)
he can count to ten
very good speech

[Supermum]

Just goes to show how different they all are yet all within the realms of normal.

My son was 3 early February.

This is where he's at:

Whilst his vocabulary is large, he still has trouble with a few sounds. It's getting better though and I have no concerns. Mainly 'r','cr','ch'
He can count to twenty
He knows the alphabet and recognises a few words
He's fully toilet trained
He jumps off ledges which are four foot high and frightens the hell out of his mother.
He can't draw to save himself but enjoys using his Magnadoogle or chalkboard so who cares?
He uses his duplo to create mini empires 20 stories high
And only just starting to understand the concept of sharing ... readily volunteers to share on occasion with his sister
He's starting to use a cutlery knife
Can't cut with scissors
Undoes buttons but can't do them up again
Knows all primary and secondary colours
Knows most shapes

[Peaceangels]

My DS1 is 3 and a bit.

Toileting: Fully toilet trained during the day, wears a nappy at night (about to start the night training). Very rarely has accident's.

Counting: Can count to 25. Nearly there on the alphabet.

Fine Motor: Holds pencil really well, can do a 28 piece jigsaw puzzle

Physically: rides a 3 wheeler bike, can hop and try's to skip. Very good at running (with stops and turns). Climbs stairs one foot after the other.

Interaction: Very social, joins in with other kids activities without a thought. Plays very well with other children, but still grasping the whole sharing / taking turns concept.

Feeding: uses a fork, spoon and knife very well.

Affectionate: Only to DH & I or close family, tells us daily (several times a day) that he loves us. Very affectionate with his younger bro.

Interests: Puzzles, trucks (particularly the bin truck), building cubby houses or rocket ships.

Bad habits: learnt to spit(glad mine is not the only one), always putting his hand down his jocks, hates cleaning up (it takes alot of coaxing to get his help)

Speech: Very good, although he is a bit lazy with some words, but things have improved greatly since he started pre-school.

He can dress/undress himself.

[kymmy]

my son does some things very well and other things
not so well
so it is good to see where your kids up to

My son is very good with colours, shapes and puzzles
he is crazy for Thomas so he is good with train tracks all over the floor
though he does like to pick up

He isn't doing some of the things that have been mentioned
but he is so clever to me
I don't mind
I know with my daughter
she is 6 and can't pedal a bike
and isn't very good with puzzles
so some kids are just better at some things
and not so good at other things
my girl is an excellent drawer and has been since 18 mths
my boy has no interest in drawing