At 3 to 3.5 years might to do

now my son aged 3.5 years. I try to do the best for my son. what he needs I always try to fulfill.

The most obvious difference at this age is appearance. From this moment, your toddler is officially a little boy or girl because of how he/ she looks and what he/ she can do!

Physically and mentally

• Body proportions change with limbs and torso taking a more grown-up look

• Stands fully erect, walks with arms swinging at sides • Has better control e.g. of finger grip when colouring or painting, of legs and feet when running or hopping • Raises feet high and lands squarely back when jumping Language and emotions

• Recognises letters of the alphabet

• Says “I love you”

• Likes asking family members if they love him/ her

• Physically dramatises emotions e.g. twists body away when crying

• More willing to share toys with other young children • May use longer sentences e.g. “I want that toy” instead of “want toy”

• May read short words e.g. ball, cat, dog Feeding Your child is ready to drink fully from a cup. Continue to watch what your child drinks. Studies show that three to six-year-olds consume much less milk and much more high-sugar fruit juice and soft drinks than the recommended amount. Sleep Many three-year-olds stop taking afternoon naps. However, do still try to incorporate some quiet-time into his/ her day to give your child (and yourself) a chance to recharge.

Ideal toys for this age

• Action figures

• Hand puppets

• Science themed toys

• Fairy-tale themed storybooks

Useful tips

Your child will very likely already have a full set of 20 milk teeth. Teach your child to brush his/ her teeth twice a day or preferably after each meal to ensure optimal oral health.

At 3.5 to 4 years

Does your child refuse to hold still? Give him/ her plenty of outdoor outlets to expel this burst of energy.

What your child might do:

Physically and mentally • Has better balance (girls usually achieve this quicker than boys) • Has intentional ideas about what to scribble or draw • Shapes scribbles into semblance of alphabets or even short, misspelled words • Catches ball thrown directly at him/ her • Rolls play dough into balls and puts them together to make shapes or people Language and emotions • Uses longer sentences • Recognizes and reads short words such as own name and cat, dog, etc • Empathizes with characters in stories Sleep Nightmares are very common at this age. And so is fear of the dark. Ease your child’s night-time anxieties by giving him/ her a nightlight, flashlight and/ or a comfort object such as a favourite toy. Ideal toys for this age • Intermediate-level jigsaw puzzles • Simple board games • Scooter and tricycle • Early-learning computer games At this age, a child should be allowed to choose his/ her own toys. Useful tips If you haven’t already, emphasize good etiquette and manners now itself. Teaching children to say “please”, “thank you” and “I am sorry” from a young age helps them grow into conscientious adults.