Development
These skills tend to be quite variable. But at this age the typical child:

• Kicks a ball, stands briefly on one foot and jumps in place.
• Opens doors.
• Pedals a tricycle.
• Builds a tower of nine small blocks or imitates a bridge made of three blocks.
• Alternates feet when climbing steps.
• Demonstrates speech which is mostly understood, even by people who don't see him or her often.
• Knows name, age and sex.
• Understands "cold," "tired, "hungry" and may understand "on" and "under."
• Knows "bigger" and "smaller."
• Can explain the use of a ball, scissors, key and pencil.
• Copies a circle.
• Describes actions in pictures.
• Puts on some clothing and shoes.
• Feeds self.

Safety
Injury prevention is proactive. Consider the following:

• Children should be secured in an approved child car seat; car seats should not be placed in the front passenger-side seat where there is an air bag.
• Continue to guard or gate openings to stairways.
• Store knives and firearms appropriately and out of reach.
• Teach the danger of following a pet or ball into the street but still supervise closely.
• Advise care around strange pets.
• Discuss water safety; knowing how to "swim" does not make a child "water-safe."
• Talk to your child about not following strangers and what are inappropriate touches.

Parenting
These activities provide good examples for modeling important skills and encourage your child to grow in a healthy and happy way:

• Provide opportunities for children to discuss the day's events.
• Allow your child to explore, show initiative and communicate.
• Provide for special time alone, especially if there are siblings.
• Promote out-of-home experiences: preschool and play groups.
• Your child should be forming the concepts of sharing and taking turns.
• Your child may be growing out of naps; bedtime rituals are still important.
• Encourage active play with objects as well as pretend play.
• Many children may have problems with stuttering at this age; give them time to express themselves.
• Children may become more irritable when over tired and may need help calming down.
• Children may be curious about birth and the differences between the sexes; be honest and give age-appropriate responses.
• Children may not be able to tell when you are "kidding;" limit teasing.
• Show affection.

Nutrition
Good nutrition is essential to a growing body. Tips include:

• Serve balanced meals; avoid junk food and junk drinks.
• Continue fluoride supplementation if necessary.
• Children may continue to be "picky" eaters; serve healthy foods in small portions and allow them to choose.

Behavior
Childhood behavior may go from one extreme to another. This age is no exception:

• Explain the consequences of unacceptable behavior to the child.
• Encourage self-discipline.
• Promote positive sibling relationships.
• Encourage independence by allowing some decision-making.
• Use "no" sparingly.
• Be consistent; set limits.
• Be realistic in demands.
• Do not talk down to your child and respect confidences.

Health
Health maintenance is essential to a child's well-being.

• Schedule a dental appointment if you have not done so yet.
• By this age, about 85% of children are toilet-trained but this is highly variable.
• Teach good hygiene: brushing teeth, washing hands, limiting the spread of germs.

Resources
The following items may be useful:

• Ames, Louise. Your Three Year Old. Dell, 1980.
• Brace, Edward. Every Parent's Guide to Childhood Illnesses
• Brazelton, T. Berry. Doctor and Child. Dell, 1978.
• Brook, Joae. No More Diapers (Doubleday)
• Chess, Stella. Your Child is a Person; A Psychological Approach to Parenthood Without Guilt. Viking, 1965.
• Cole, Joanna. Toilet Teaching
• Kaye, Evelyn. The Family Guide to Children's Television: What to Watch, What to Miss, What to Change, and How to do it. Pantheon, 1974.
• Nelson, Jane. Positive Discipline
• Segal, Marilyn M. Your Child At Play. Three to Five Years. New Market Press, NY, c 1986