Developmental Milestone For A Three Year Old Child

We have learned some of the general developmental milestones for 2 years old child in my previous post, today we will look into the milestones of a three year old child. While rearing a child at any age is no snap, things should get easier during the third year. Most 3-year-old can be reasoned with. They will take turns and may even share toys. A child in this age group will help the parents get him or her dressed. Most are toilet trained during the day, although it is common for an occasional "accident" while busy playing. In previous generations, moms and dads learned what to expect of their child from their mother, grandmother or another family member. Today, most families are so scattered that parents do not have this help available. Therefore, do not hesitate to ask any questions you might have about your child's growth and development during the three year checkup. This is the reason for regular well-child exams.

Parenting and Behavioural

• The 3-year-old will ask more questions than a district attorney. Nothing is sacred and some questions will throw you for a loop!
• Continue reading books to your child.
• Arrange times for safe running and exploring outdoors.
• Playmates are important. Allow your child to experience interaction with peers. Three-year-olds are usually quite social and enjoy being with other 3-year-olds. This can be accomplished in a preschool, play group or just having another child over for a few hours.
• It is normal for children this age to have imaginary friends. Parents can sometimes use the youngster's imaginary "playmate" to their advantage (like getting your 3-year-old to do something you want them to do.)
• Limit television viewing. Do not use the TV as a baby sitter or as a substitute for interaction with your child. Watch children's programs with your child when possible.
• Do not worry if the child becomes curious about body parts. This is normal at this age. Always use the correct terms for genitals.
• Children this age begin to recognize gender differences and will correctly say "I am a girl" or "I am a boy."
• Discipline should be firm and consistent, but loving and understanding. Praise your child for his or her good behavior and accomplishments.
• Three-year-olds like to do things for themselves.
• The 3-year-old does not understand "tongue-in-cheek" comments and can not always tell when a parent is joking. For example, never threaten to leave a child at the store when he or she misbehaves.
• Your child may continue to use a security object (such as a blanket, favorite stuffed toy, etc.). This is normal and the youngster will give up the item when he or she is ready.
• Keep family outings short and simple. Children have a short attention span at this age and lengthy activities will cause them to become irritable and tired.
• The question of preschool usually comes up now. Daycare has already been established for a family when both parents work outside the home. Even for moms who stay at home with their child, preschool a few mornings a week can be helpful. It gives mom a welcome break and provides the child an opportunity to meet new friends.The success or failure of preschool will depend upon the child's maturity and the quality of the preschool. For example, if your child seems anxious and dependent away from home, perhaps he or she is not ready for preschool.
• If you are expecting another baby, discuss with your child's physician how to prepare your 3-year-old.

Discipline

• Encourage your 3-year-old to make choices whenever possible, but the choices should be limited to those you can live with ("red shirt or green shirt.") Never ask a toddler an open question ("Do you want to take a bath") unless you are willing to accept the answer.
• Use the two "I's" of discipline (ignore or isolate) rather than the two "S's" (shouting or spanking). When disciplining, try to separate the child and his or her behavior ("I love you, but I do not like it when you touch the VCR.")
• Provide alternatives. "No, you cannot play with the telephone, but you can play with these blocks."
• Avoid power struggles. No one wins! The 3-year-old still uses temper tantrums as a weapon. Respond to this behavior with the two I's of discipline - ignore or isolate (time out!).
• Discipline should be consistent. Do not make threats that you can not carry out. If you say you are going to do something, do it!

Development

• Can name pictures in a book
• Names at least one color.
• Knows his or her own name, age and sex.
• Begins to use pronouns.
• Able to put on his or her own shirt, but will need help with shoes and buttons.
• May be able to ride a tricycle.
• Can jump in place and stand briefly on one foot.
• Can (unfortunately!) open doors.
• More than 50 percent of the child's speech is intelligible. There may be temporary episodes of stuttering during this time.
• Understands such words as "cold," "tired," "hungry." Comprehends the meaning of "on or under", and "bigger or smaller."

Oral Health

• Supervise brushing twice a day with a small amount of fluoridated toothpaste.
• Take your 3-year-old to the dentist, if you have not already done so.
• Limit juice and sweets.
• Continue giving a fluoride supplement if your drinking water is not fluoridated. Some dentists recommend fluoride be continued through age 8; others recommend continuing through age 12 or 16. Check with your pediatrician and dentist.
• Stop pacifier use

Feeding

• Appetite is perhaps a shade better than it was a few months ago, but it is still not what most parents (or grandparents) think it should be. "My child will not eat," is a familiar complaint heard at the three year checkup. Remember, feeding problems may arise if parents make their child eat more than the child needs to, or shows too much concern in what the youngster eats.
• The 3-year-old should pretty much be able to feed himself or herself.
• During meal time, the 3-year-old is sometimes very demanding of parent's attention and may also dawdle!
• Avoid nuts, hard candy, uncut grapes, hot dogs or raw vegetables. Control sweets and avoid junk food.
• Eat dinner together as a family whenever possible.
• Begin to teach proper table manners and encourage conversation during family meals.
• Turn the TV off during meals.
• Make sure your child's caregiver is following your feeding instructions.
• Sleeping
• An afternoon nap is usually still needed by the 3-year-old.
• Fears of the dark, thunder, lightning, etc. are quite common at this age.
• Maintain a consistent bedtime and bedtime routine. Using a night light, security blanket or toy are all ways to help lessen nighttime fears.
• Read to your child when possible before "lights out."
• Nightmares can wake a child up from sleep. The nightmares can be triggered by changes or stress. Reassure your child and put him or her back to bed.

Toilet Training

• Many 3-year-olds are trained during the day but still do not stay dry at night. Others are completely trained. Remember, the age a child uses the bathroom by himself or herself varies and it is based only on a child's readiness to be trained and the positive attitude of the parents.
• Avoid putting too many demands on the child or shaming him about wearing diapers. Instead, let your child no how proud and happy you are about any potty successes.
• Some children may postpone having a bowel movement as a way to manipulate their parents or because they are busy doing something else. Try not to make an issue of this

Illness

• Your 3-year-old may continue to experience respiratory infections, such as colds, ear infections and sinus infections. These frequent ailments often become frustrating for parents. Unfortunately, most illnesses are unavoidable, especially if your child is in preschool or has older siblings who bring the colds home from school.
• When your child is ill, the pediatrician will determine whether antibiotics are needed. Remember, most illnesses at this age are viral, which means antibiotics will not shorten the course of the illness

Immunization

Since immunization schedules vary from doctor to doctor, and new vaccines may have been introduced,it is always best to seek the advice of your child's health care provider concerning your child's vaccine schedule.

• Normally, no immunizations are given at this checkup unless your child is behind in the immunization schedule.
• Hepatitis A (HepA) may be administered at this visit for children living in selected states.
• Annual flu vaccines may be recommended for children with chronic illnesses like asthma and heart defects. Check with your doctor.
• Some physicians at 3years do a hemoglobin or hematocrit determination to check for anemia ("low blood"). This requires a small poke on the finger to obtain a drop of blood. A urinalysis will also be done if the child is toilet trained to check for kidney and bladder problems.
• By this age, most children have received the following immunizations:
  

• 3 doses of Hepatitis B vaccine
• 4 doses of DTaP vaccine
• 4 doses of HIB vaccine
• 1 dose of the MMR vaccine
• 1 dose of the Chickenpox vaccine
• 4 doses of the Pneumococcal vaccine
• 3 doses of the Inactivated Polio Vaccine
• 3 doses of the rotavirus vaccine

MERRY CHISTMAS AND A PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE!!!

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General Developmental Milestones For Toddlers

My daughter, Alisha is now 2 years old. She can speak few clear words in a sentence and is also picking up words quite faster lately from her favorite cartoon movies. Though she was a bit slow in her language development but now she is catching up.

Observing the developmental milestones of our children is an amazing feeling of fulfillment for a mother. You just imagine when you first hold your child in your arms those delicate and small body can now walk and eat by themselves and speak for themselves. Such a great accomplishment! However, children develop at their own pace, so it's impossible to tell exactly when yours will learn a given skill. Below are the developmental milestones that will give you a general idea of the changes you can expect as your child gets older, but don't be alarmed if your child takes a slightly different course.

For Years Old

Social and Emotional

* Imitates behavior of others, especially adults and older children
* More aware of herself as separate from others
* More excited about company of other children

Emotional

* Begins to show defiant behavior
* Separation anxiety increases toward midyear then fades

Cognitive


* Finds objects even when hidden under two or three covers
* Begins to sort by shapes and colors
* Begins make-believe play

Language

* Points to object or picture when it's named for him
* Recognizes names of familiar people, objects, and body parts
* Says several single words (by 15 to 18 months)
* Uses simple phrases (by 18 to 24 months)
* Uses 2- to 4-word sentences
* Follows simple instructions
* Repeats words overheard in conversation

Movement

* Walks alone
* Pulls toys behind her while walking
* Carries large toy or several toys while walking
* Begins to run
* Stands on tiptoe
* Kicks a ball
* Climbs onto and down from furniture unassisted
* Walks up and down stairs holding on to support

Hand and Finger Skills

* Scribbles on his or her own
* Turns over container to pour out contents
* Builds tower of four blocks or more
* Might use one hand more often than the other

For 3 years old onwards next posting...

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5 Ways To Raise Unspoiled Children

As a parent we often hear the phrase "I want this or I want that." For many parents being able to buy their children things that they want makes them feel successful. They want their children to be happy and to like them. Yet fulfilling your child's every desire ultimately does them no favors. They grow up believing that the world owes them and that they should get what they want when they want it, hence the growing amount of consumer debt in our nation. So, being a good parent what can you do to raise unspoiled children?

1. Teach your children the difference between wants and needs. Every child needs a pair of shoes, but they don't need a pair of popular $100 sneakers. There is no reason that your child needs a new toy every time you go to the store. Especially when they probably have a closet full that they don't play with at home. Shop with a list and if your children ask for something that is not on the list tell them, "Sorry, it's not on the list." Or your can tell them that if they want things they can ask for it for their birthday or Christmas.

2. Donate items that are not needed or played with. Teaching your children that there are people less fortunate than themselves will help them realize how lucky they are. Every year go through your child's clothes and toys and donate items that aren't used anymore. My friend says that her children often pick nicer newer toys to give to those less fortunate and she lets them because it teaches them to give.

3. Realize that your child will compare themselves to others. It is human nature to compare ourselves to others. We will always come short of some and ahead of others. Your child may want a certain toy or item or clothing because their friend has it. If the item can be justified then buy it. If not explain to your child why the purchase just isn't in the budget. Encourage your child to dream high. You may only be able to provide so much but he can work hard and achieve his dreams himself.

4. Teach your child to save and budget. Many young adults today do not know how to save or budget their money. They have never had to deny themselves of something and now that they don't have their parent's money supply they are hurting. Teaching your child to save and budget while young is a valuable skill. Growing up, we were required to save 50% of everything we earned. This trait continued to adulthood. Give your child a clothing budget every fall and then let them do the shopping themselves. Allow a monthly allowance for activities. Once it is spent don't give your child anymore. Your child will quickly realize how expensive things are and that they will need to shop around and budget their money to make it last.

5. Let your child earn rewards. In real life you don't receive something for nothing. Even to win the lottery you have to buy a ticket. So instead of just giving your child things let them earn it. My friend's sister who is in junior high really wanted a pair of Girbaud pants, the popular brand at the time. But they cost considerably more than other brands and her parent's couldn't justify the cost. So they reached an agreement if her sister earned certain grades she would get the pants.

Do you have a cute kid? Show off your kid to the world through our online photo contest.

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7 Keys To Effective Parenting

The birth of a child changes lives forever. Becoming a parent brings with it several concerns and responsibilities. And, the central concern becomes effective parenting. While parenting comes naturally to most, the many concerns of the modern world and it's fast paced existence make parenting a many tiered concern.

Parenting in simple terms just means loving your child, and teaching him to be a rounded and caring individual. Children need understanding, love, as well as a certain guiding hand which will help them make appropriate choices.

The keys to effective parenting are:

1. Understand that your child is an individual with the ability to think. Never try and mold a child into what you imagine to be the right mold for him or her. Every child has certain inborn talents and must be given the opportunity to discover their own identity and personality.
2. Instill in the child a sense of self confidence and trust in you. They must know that at any time they can turn to you for advice and help. Help the child discover themselves, their inner talents and strengths. Keep all avenues of conversation open. Listen to what a child has to say. You will be surprised at how much children know today.
3. Nurture your child's talents and give them the space and opportunity to fly with the wind and touch the skies. Never try and push a child into a study course or profession they are not comfortable with let the child find its own level.
4. Reassure the child that he has your unconditional love and support. Your love is not a measure of the child's behavior, performance, or achievements.
5. Freedom needs limits. Being understanding and lenient does not mean running wild. Children need rules to work under as well as a pre-determined schedule. This instills in them a feeling of security as well as discipline. So, a parent must wield the carrot and stick but subtly not like a military general or great dictator.
6. The adage, spare the rod and spoil the child is valid. What a parent needs to do is use positive methods to discipline a child. Never beat or abuse a child but devise a way in which a child looses certain privileges when he or she behaves badly or oversteps limits. Decide with the child whether it should be TV privileges, or pizza treats, or movies, or visits to the mall. Many parents find grounded? works well.
7. Create bonds that a strong and will stand the vicissitudes of time. Be warm, share interests, spend time together, establish routines and rituals, be vigilant and pick up clues when a child is upset or angry. Keep lines of communication open, a child must be able to come and share his troubles and problems with you without hesitation.
   

Being a parent is not about providing well, giving pocket money, or satisfying material needs. It is about creating love, understanding, and trust. Bonds that are formed in the early years of life will last a life time of good times and bad. It is important for parents to extend a warm hand of friendship.

Take a look also these books for more reference and guidance:



1-2-3 Magic: Effective Discipline for Children 2-12
Parenting Secrets By Mother Of Five
Positive Parenting

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Books For Parenting

Publish Post

What to Expect When You're Expecting: 4th Edition



The Happiest Baby on the Block - The New Way to Calm Crying and Help Your Baby Sleep Longer (DVD)



Deceptively Delicious: Simple Secrets to Get Your Kids Eating Good Food



IlluStory Make Your Own Story Kit



Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Twins: A Step-by-Step Program for Sleep-Training Your Multiples




Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child



Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons



Lunch Lessons: Changing the Way We Feed Our Children



Rich Dad Poor Dad: What the Rich Teach Their Kids About Money-That the Poor and the Middle Class Do Not!



1-2-3 Magic: Effective Discipline for Children 2-12



Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy



My Baby Can Talk - Sharing Signs



Good Housekeeping (2-year)

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Baby Photo Contest Online For Cute Kids

The CuteKid.com is searching for the 2009 CuteKid of the Year. They truly intend to give parents the outlet to put their special cute photos to the test against other CuteKids™ from around the world. Because the internet brings the world together, TheCuteKid.com is being touted as the world's leading child photo contest website.

Capture that beautiful special moment of your children share them to the world! Why not take a chance on winning great prizes in our online baby photo contest, and best of all, a chance to be spotted by the right Talent and Casting Agents!

Click the picture below for more details...
By the way its and FREE and easy! Join Now!

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5 Simple Etiquette Tips Every Child Needs To Know

First impressions are important. As a parent you need to teach your child how to make a good impression. The key is etiquette for children. Here are 5 simple etiquette tips a child needs to know:

Greetings
A proper greeting shows confidence and maturity. Teach your child to address people they meet by their title and name. Making eye contact is an important etiquette too. You can teach your child how to greet people by giving yourself a name and pretending to meet your child. Have your child practice saying, "Hello, Mr. Hansen," and looking you in the eye. Remind them that they need to use Mr., Mrs., or Ms. and not an adult's first name unless requested to use it.

Handshakes
In our society handshakes are used unlike the kisses that dominate European society. So it is an important etiquette for children to learn how to shake hands. Typically a person extends their right hand the one they use most often. For left-hander children, it is harder to remember that people shake with their right. Practice with your child so that they don't grip too hard (it's not a contest) or too soft (there should be some actual gripping) but right in between.

Please and Thank You
These two phrases are still valuable today and their use shows a person has manners more than anything else. In order to teach these words as a parent you must use them yourself (and remind your kids about a million times). Talk to your child about why please and thank you are important. Everyone likes to be appreciated and according to Emily Post saying, "'Please' can turn a demand into a request and indicates an option it can turn an unpopular request into a more palatable one."

Excuse Me
This is a valuable phrase that is used too little. Besides saying "excuse me" after public bodily functions there are many other times when "excuse me" should be used. Such as when a person walks through a crowded room, bumps into someone, walks in front of someone, needs to leave a group, or needs to ask a question. Practice role-playing situations in which your child could use "excuse me."

Not Interrupting
Nothing shows bad manners more than a child who runs up to his parent in mid conversation and begins speaking. Teach your child that when you or anyone else is talking that they must wait until a break in the conversation before interrupting. Teach your child the right etiquette using a signal, such as raising one finger, to show that you acknowledge them and will listen in a moment. Then be sure to stop and listen to your child. Emily Post reminds parents that "the mother who invariably stops and says, 'What is it, dear?' when her daughter interrupts is helping her to establish a habit that will do her a disservice all her life."

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How Babies Learn To Talk?

My daughter, Alisha, is already 1 year and 6 months old and she only utter a word "ad", "mi","hi", and the rest of the words she said are her own language. I am a bit worried cause Nanay, my mother, said my niece are already talking few straight words. My niece, Bella is 1 month older than Alisha.

They said that if parents want their infant to grow up speaking like an adult they should talk to them like they are adults. So that's what me and my husband are doing. But new research from Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Wisconsin confirms that talking to babies in baby talk, as mothers have been doing for centuries, is pretty effective and helps them learn language faster. It is clear that infants like listening to baby talk better than adult speech. So i better change my style.

He said further that babies in the study were able to identify specific words from nonsense sentences more quickly when the sentences were delivered in baby talk than when they were delivered in the more monotone cadence characteristic of adult speech.

Lead researcher Erik D. Thiessen, PhD, of Carnegie Mellon University says the infants learned words about 25% faster when exposed to baby talk.

What is baby talk?

Known in language development circles as infant-directed speech, baby talk is characterized by short, simple sentences delivered in a high-pitched, sing-song voice. Vowels are also dragged out, and each word of a sentence tends to be clearly spoken.

Thiessen says baby talk and the exaggerated body language that goes along with it tends to grab an infant's attention. And the simple sentence structure and slow word delivery make it easier for infants to learn.

"It isn't that babies can't learn from adult-directed speech," he tells WebMD. "They will figure it out eventually no matter how they are talked to. They just tend to learn a little faster with infant-directed speech."

The findings may also help explain why adults have so much trouble learning a second language, even though they are able to speak their own language effortlessly, Thiessen says. Adults tend to learn individual words of a new language easily. But they often have trouble understanding the language when it is spoken by native speakers because words tend to run together and no longer make sense.

"There may be something about the simplified way that people talk to infants that makes it easier to break into a new language and figure out what is going on," he says.

Talk Silly to Baby

The new research should help calm the fears of parents who have heard that baby talk could slow their child's verbal learning, says researcher Roberta Michnick Golinkoff, PhD. Michnick Golinkoff directs the Infant Language Project at the University of Delaware and is co-author of the books How Babies Talk and Einstein Never Used Flash Cards.

"We know that infant-directed speech really helps babies break up the speech stream to find the individual words," she tells WebMD.

"Parents should feel comfortable talking silly to their babies. Babies love it and it helps them learn."

Another findings:

"According to research conducted by Janellen Huttenlocher, the actual size of a toddler's vocabularly is strongly correlated with how much her mother talks to her. Dr. Huttenlocher found at twenty months old, the children of chatty mothers averaged 131 more words than the children of mothers who didn't speak much. At two years of age, the gap more than doubled to 295 words.

"Other researchers have found that talking to children a lot not only affects their vocabularly, but also their intelligence. Betty Hart, PhD, and Todd R. Risley, PhD, observed how parents interacted with their one- and two-year-old children. At age three, the ones who scored the highest on intelligence quotient (IQ) and language tests were the ones who had heard the greatest number of words at one and two.

"Even though your baby may be surrounded by conversation from birth on, it is important that you talk directly to her before she can talk back to you. You don't need to ask her a lot of questions or require her to respond. Your purpose is to build her understanding of language to help enhance her expression of language."

"A good enough reasons to start having silly conversations to my daughter!"

What about you? What are your ways in helping your children talk faster? Do you mind to share?

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