Hi. I’m your 3 to 5 year old child.

I am quickly becoming my own person. I know what I like and what I do not like. I have my own friends and my own way of doing things. I might do some things before other children and I may do some things after them. Be patient. I will get there in my own time.

The most important thing you can do is to be warm, loving and responsive to me. This will help my brain develop and shape the way I learn, think and behave for the rest of my life. I also need you to take care of yourself. If you feel unhappy or have negative feelings, please talk to family, friends or your doctor.

To help you know what to expect, here are some common milestones that most children reach between 3 and 5 years old.

Milestones:

• follows 2 related directions e.g. "close the book and give it to me"
• tells first and last name
• understands questions about a picture story e.g. "Where did the bunny go?"
• reasons - answers "What do you do when you're hungry/cold?"
• tells a short story e.g. "two kids played ball"
• sentences are usually 3 and 4 words long
• gives directions such as "Fix this for me"
• asks many questions: "what", "where", "why"

Warning Signs:

• is your child's speech difficult to understand?
• are your child's speech skills not at age level described?

Questions?
If you have any questions concerning your child’s healthy growth and development, please contact your community health nurse at your local health unit office.