By Dr. Sandhya Pentareddy
These are some important things you should keep in mind while raising a 3-year-old child:
- Is the environment safe for your child to play and learn? This includes the people she interacts and places she visits.
- Are you encouraging physical activity and playtime to develop gross and fine motor skills?
- Are you providing enough exposure and opportunity to your child to learn in the form of a stimulating environment, imaginative play and creative activities? Are you reading books to your child to encourage a love of reading and learning? Are you ensuring the content including story books are appropriate to her age? Provide positive reinforcement and praise the child for their efforts and achievements.
- Does your child have enough opportunity to socialize with other children and adults, for positive social interactions?
- Have you checked her development against the expected ‘Development and Milestones’ for her age? Remember that would just be a guideline and every child is different. But the milestones help in your understanding of your child’s growth and you may a consult a specialist if you have any concerns.
- Is your child trained in Hygiene and Self-care: such as washing hands, brushing teeth, and starting to dress independently?
- Is her diet a healthy and balanced one with plenty of fruits, vegetables, protein and whole grains? Read more: Nutrition and Meals
- Are you promoting good sleeping habits? Establish a consistent routine for sleeping and waking up?
- Are you avoiding screen time or at least limiting it and ensuring the content is age-appropriate?
- Have you selected a Pre-School for her?
- Is she potty trained?
- Have you vaccinated her according to the guidelines of her primary health care provider?
The above checklist is a general guideline. Please keep in mind that every child is unique. You may add to the above, depending upon your child’s needs and interests.