Growth

Body

• I will gain about 2 to 7 kilograms (5 to 16 pounds) and grow from 2.5 to 12.5 centimetres (1 to 5 inches) in height between 3 and 5 years of age.
• I will grow more slowly as I get older. That means I will not grow as much when I am 4 years old as I will grow when I am 3 years old.
• My arms and legs are growing quickly. My head and body (trunk) are growing more slowly.
• I will grow at my own rate, faster than some children and slower than others. If I do not gain 1 to 2 kilograms (3 to 4 pounds) or grow 2.5 to 5 centimetres (1 to 2 inches) between birthdays, talk to our doctor or community health nurse.

Teeth

• I should have all 20 of my baby teeth by the time I am 3 years old. I will probably not get any new teeth until after I am 5 years old.
• To prevent cavities, I need to brush my teeth with a child’s soft toothbrush and a pea-size amount of flouride toothpaste. Teach me to spit out the toothpaste and not to swallow it.
• I can practice brushing my own teeth but I need your help to brush and floss my teeth at least once a day (bedtime is the best time).
• I should visit my dentist regularly.

Development

Language

By the time I am 3 years old:

• I can understand 900 to 1,000 words.
• A person who does not know me should understand about 75% of what I say.
• I can make the p, m, h, n and w sounds.
• I know the primary colors of red, blue and yellow.
• I might talk more often and for a longer time.
• I have fun saying nonsense words and I love singing nursery rhymes or songs with actions.
• I might get ear infections. If I seem to be having trouble hearing, take me to a doctor as soon as possible.

By the time I am 4 years old:

• I can talk in complete sentences of 5 to 6 words.
• I can make the b, k, g and d sounds.
• I can tell stories. Ask me to tell you about my day.
• I can listen and follow 3-step directions, such as, “Get your shoes and your coat and wait by the door.”
• I will probably ask a lot of questions. I learn from your answers.
• I can probably count to 10.
• I can tell you how old I am.
• I might say my full name and home address.
• I might use slang words, such as, “cool” or “gross.”
• I understand opposites, like same and different, hot and cold, in and out. I also understand concepts like under, beside, in front, behind or in back of.

By the time I am 5 years old:

• I can understand and use about 2,000 words.
• A person who does not know me should understand about 90% of what I say.
• I can make the f and y sounds.
• I might talk more about other people and less about myself.
• I can define simple words.
• I might ask you the meaning of abstract words, like “science.”
• I like talking fast and talking in a very quiet or very loud voice.
• I can understand stories, songs and shows on television. I like to talk about them with you.
• I like to try using new words. I learn new words from people and events around me.
• If I am hard to understand, I do not speak in complete sentences or I cannot follow directions, I should see a Speech Language Pathologist.

Movement

• When I am about 4 years old, I will walk heel to toe.
• I can walk downstairs, one foot at a time, without help.
• I can hop and stand on one foot.
• I can easily move forward and backward.
• I can copy shapes and draw circles, squares and other geometric shapes.
• I can draw a person with three body parts (head, torso and legs).
• I can print some letters of the alphabet.
• I can use scissors.
• I can swing, climb, skip and jump.
• I can catch a ball that is bounced to me.
• I can feed myself without making a big mess.
• I can dress myself but I still need help with shoelaces and buttons.