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| 3 to 4 Years |
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| Social-emotional Development |
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- Set aside at least ten minutes every day when you give your child your complete attention. Do whatever he wants to do.
- Compromise some of the time, but maintain the basic rules. "You may stay up late so that we may read one more book".
- Provide tools that make it easier to help herself. The right utensils, a chair the right height, a napkin, etc. Praise her when there is little mess.
- Ask him to tell you about his friends. What are their names, what does he like about them, what do they like to do together. Realize that favorite friends change quickly at this age.
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| Language Development |
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- Listen patiently to your child and allow her to complete her thoughts.
- Give your child the opportunity to share his observations, to dictate stories, and to ask questions.
- Read magazines and books together to find answers to your child's questions. Take her to the library to learn even more about the subjects she is curious about.
- When your child over-generalizes the rules of language (i.e., "Mommy drived me home") just repeat what he said in the correct manner ("Yes, Mommy did drive you home.")
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| Motor Development |
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- When learning to ride a tricycle it should 'fit' your child. Her feet should reach the pedals at all positions, and her hands should reach the handlebars when she is seated.
- Provide your child with a variety of materials to build with. Boxes, cans, sticks, rocks, paper tubing. Encourage different structures: towers, bridges, tunnels, and roads.
- Make sure your child knows how to hold a crayon with an 'adult style' grip: with his thumb on one side, and his fingers on the other.
- Give your child lots of time to use drawing materials and unlined paper.
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| Intellectual Development |
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- Look through a magazine together, and ask your child to find all of the animals, food, or people.
- Use time words when talking to your child. "Yesterday we went to the grocery store." "Tomorrow morning we'll go to the park."
- Count aloud with your child when you are building with blocks, walking downstairs, or when putting items in your grocery cart.
- Give your child uninterrupted time to play with open-ended materials that she enjoys: drawing materials, play dough, blocks, dress-up box, etc. Praise her for sticking with the activity.
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Help Your Baby Learn
