206 - 3 Years Old

In Episode 6 of Season 2, Dr. Carole Keim walks us through what to expect from three year olds. This can be a difficult age because children experience a lot of emotional growth and often become oppositional. Dr. Keim offers guidance on what to expect and how to handle it.Three year olds have a lot of big feelings and drama, they often ask “why” a lot, they do the opposite of what is asked to test boundaries. They are trying to see exactly where the boundaries lie and that they’ll still be loved if they push limits. They have more refined motor skills, are more independent, and their speech has become more coherent. Dr. Keim advises on everything from behavior to nutrition and how best to handle certain patience-testing behaviors.In this episode:Social developmentMotor skillsBehaviorParentingNutritionPotty trainingSafety3 year checkupSocial development 02:04Imaginative play, often elaborateCan put on a shirt, coat, or jacket by themselvesPlays with others and can share Able to follow a multi-step command (when they want to!)3-word sentences Speech 75% intelligible to strangersWhen they speak, repeat back with correct grammar and pronunciationTells you a story from a book or TV; make up great stories Can compare things with words like bigger/smaller Understands simple prepositions like on/underAsks “why” repeatedly Many children start preschool around age 2-3Types of preschools - Montessori, Waldorf, Reggio EmiliaPreschool vs daycare Motor skills 05:51Eats independentlyTypically potty trained for urine - can enter bathroom and pee by themselves Pedal a tricycleClimb on and off chairs, couchesJump forwardDraw a circleDraws a person as a face with arms or legs Can cut with scissorsBehavior 08:31Test boundariesLots of defiancePraise/notice good behavior Offer two reasonable choices as often as possible Teach them what is ok to do when they are angry Parenting 12:17Maintain routines and limits - meals, bedtimeEncourage fantasy play Play games that require taking turns Teach your child about empathy (but don’t expect them to fully grasp it yet)Rhyme togetherLet your child pretend to read books to you Limit TV to 1 hour of high quality programming that you watch togetherAvoid TV during meal times and in bedroomsBe aware of your own screen use around childNutrition 16:51Pattern: eat 1 meal, skip 1 meal, pick at 1 mealOften picky at this age; try to offer a variety and avoid falling into the trap of beige foods and sweets.  Have healthy snacks ready to go for them - cut up fruit/veggies, healthy dips like hummus / soy sauceWater is the best thing they can drink and can/should be the only thing they drink; limit milk to 24oz per day and juice to 4oz per day Potty training 17:42Daytime dryness comes 6-12 mos before nighttimeEncourage frequent sitting to avoid constipation; can become a vicious cycle when they have a painful BMDress them in clothing that is easy for them to remove Safety 18:35Car seat - can be forward facingUse helmet for anything with wheelsRemove firearms from homeSupervise around dogs, cars and start teaching them about safety Touch supervision near water - pools, toilet, bathtubs Move furniture away from windowsUse door locks and window locks 3-year checkup 20:22No vaccines other than flu/covid until age 4Ok to allow child to answer questions, but expect that they will give wrong answers They typically feel comfortable during the physical exam; time to start talking about safety around adults / private parts  Ask your doctor if you have any specific questions about preschool, behavior, tantrums, nutrition, vitamins, potty training, constipation, and sleep routines Regular dental visits 1-2x per year This guide aims to help you with your “threenager”, guiding you through the three years old development stages. For additional tips and advice on babies and toddlers, follow Dr. Carole Keim on her TikTok and YouTube channels. Her book, “The Baby Manual”, covers the first year of baby life and is the subject of Season One of this podcast. Remember it is always okay to call your doctor or emergency services if you have concerns about your child’s health.   Resources discussed in this episode:The Baby Manual - Available on Amazon--Dr. Carole Keim MD: linktree | tiktok | instagram