Around 3 years (36 to 48 months)

Fine Movements

• Can feed self.
• Can wash and dry hands without help.
• Holds a glass in one hand to drink.
• Can place pegs in a peg board.
• Can dress self, apart from complicated fastenings.
• Shows improved control with crayons or markers, copying simples shapes.

Large Movements

• Can pedal a tricycle or wheeled toy.
• Can go up and down stairs, alternating feet; when coming down, often jumps, feet together, from last step.
• Can kick a large ball forward with some force.
• Can catch a bounced ball with arms extended.
• Can throw a ball overhand.
• Can walk on tiptoe.

Personal, Social and Emotional Development

• In familiar surroundings separates easily from parent or familiar adult.
• Can join in social greetings and rituals: 'Hello', 'Goodbye', 'Happy Birthday'.
• Begins to learn simple games and the meaning of rules.
• Feeds self completely.
• Enjoys dramatic play with other children.
• Begins to learn to share and take turns, but is not always willing to do so.
• Can remember what happened yesterday.

Listening, Speaking and Understanding

• Speech is generally intelligible, using short sentences and plurals and adding endings to verbs.
• Laughs at silly ideas, for example 'Let's have Teddy for lunch!'
• Answers simple questions appropriately.
• Can recite nursery rhymes and sing songs.
• Assigns roles in pretend social play, for example 'You be the daddy'.
• Believes that the people on television can see you and that if you close your eyes can see you.
• Is beginning to predict and has a broader understanding of cause and effect: that hot things burn and sharp things cut.
• Enjoys being told stories, and being read from books, making relevant comments and insisting on repeats of favourites.
• 'Reads' stories for own enjoyment, and 'reads' and explains to others.
• Enjoys books that give information about a topic of interest, and books that have an element of guessing or suspense.
• Can match objects that have a joint function, for example shoes and socks, knife and fork, pencil and paper.
• Can compare simple sizes and shapes, for example, knows what is bigger or smaller.
• Can match some colours and use names of numbers, counting aloud.
• Talks about and remembers feelings, for example, 'Peter was sad'.

Seek advice if a child

• Is not easily understood most of the time by people outside the family.
• Does not use three- to four-word sentences.
• Does not use as much speech as other children of the same age.
• Rarely stays involved in an activity for more that five or ten minutes.
• Does not appear to understand when others speak, even though hearing is normal.
• Does not seem happy playing near, or with, other children.
• Relies heavily on watching others before trying a new movement.
• Has poor balance, and frequently falls and bumps into things.

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