Encouraging Healthy Development - Healthy Development Ideas - 3 Years

Young children are busy exploring their world and discovering new things every day. And there are many things you can do to support and nurture healthy growth and development. Below, we've listed some specific activities to help a 3-year-old learn and grow.

Moving - Physical or Motor Development

Hold your child’s hand going up and down stairs, or encourage him/her to use the railing.
Play with balls, practicing running and kicking.
Visit parks, playgrounds and large indoor play spaces where your child can run and climb freely.
Dance to music and play games like “Freeze” or “Hokey Pokey.”
Provide riding toys, such as a trike.
Teach your child how to “pump” his/her legs while on a swing.

Talking - Communication and Language Development

Listen to and encourage your child to use many words and longer sentences as his/her language skills expand rapidly.
Share new stories and songs while also rereading favorite books.
Give your child instructions with two or three steps such as, “Go to the closet and get your jacket and hat.”
Read to your child every day, ask him/her to point things out and repeat words or phrases after you.
Ask your child to complete a sentence in a book that you read often - you will be amazed at your child's memory!
Encourage pretend play and provide props such as stuffed animals, hats or old clothes of yours.
Save cereal boxes and other food packages, and make paper money together with your child to set up a pretend grocery store.
Point out letters and numbers in signs and everyday objects such as, “Look, this word begins with the letter ‘m’ just like your name.”
Sing songs, repeat rhymes together and make up rhyming games.

Interacting - Social and Emotional Development

Set limits and be consistent with what your child can and cannot do; give praise for following the rules.
Support your child to express feelings appropriately.
Talk about your child’s emotions; encourage him/her to identify feelings of others or characters in books.
Arrange play dates for your child to play with other children and help him/her include others in playing, sharing and taking turns.
Help your child solve a problem when upset.
Give your child simple tasks to help around the house such as sweeping, setting the table and helping with dinner. Give praise for being a good helper.
Support your child to develop trust in other familiar adults.

Thinking - Cognitive Development

Make an activity box with paper, crayons, tape, markers, ribbon, glue stick, etc.
Color and draw lines and shapes with your child.
Play with blocks - take turns building towers and knocking them down.
Hide things around the room and have your child find them.
Provide new play materials for your child to explore.
Ask your child to tell you what he/she sees while you are riding in the car; play rhyming games, sing songs and recite rhymes.

toddler boy peaking out from under blanket

If you have concerns about a child's development and think a child might need extra help to learn and grow, don't hesitate to refer a child.

The family will be contacted by the local school district to arrange for a screening or evaluation to determine if their child is eligible for Infant and Toddler Intervention or Preschool Special Education services in Minnesota.

Refer a Child

Services are free!

Regardless of:

Income
Immigration Status