Motherhood : Facts about Your Growing 3-Year-Old

Ever wonder what your growing 3-year-old should accomplished by now? I do!

Getting Dressed

You're probably becoming very familiar with the phrase, "Let me do it!" One of the many tasks your toddler wants to try is getting dressed all by herself. "Three-year-olds should be able to dress themselves in basic attire, such as pull-on pants or slip-on shoes," says Mike Mosiman, coauthor ofThe Smarter Preschooler: Unlocking Your Child's Intellectual Potential. Help your little one with this grown-up task by laying out clothes for her and choosing easy, pull-on styles that don't have difficult buttons and zippers. Be ready to assist your child, but have plenty of patience. By dressing herself, your tot is learning important skills and independence.

This is sooo Hanie Myazara. She even wanted to dress her her soft toys, let it be a bear or a frog! trust me. Once i got the clothes folded nicely, this is the girl who grab whichever cloth she wants for herself and also for her "baby"

Feeding Himself

If your little guy insists on feeding himself, sending peas and carrots everywhere, he's right on track. Most 3-year-olds can feed themselves with a spoon or fork and drink from a regular cup. If you have a picky eater, let him know he needs to sample what's on his plate rather than allowing him to refuse his dinner. Try "disguising" fruits and veggies by mixing broccoli into his mac 'n' cheese or replacing the jelly in a PB&J sandwich with apple or banana slices. Make mealtime fun and easy with finger foods such as kabobs.

This sometimes help me when i dont have plenty of time, or i myself am hungry at the moment. so suap sendiri, okay.haha. but definitely with the extra preparation of having the mat or tikar. if not, habis satu rumah penuh nasi.

Potty Training

Experts and parents agree: For potty training to be successful, your child must be ready. By 3 years old, your toddler might express interest in using the bathroom; she might tell you she has to go or ask for a clean diaper. Start a routine of having her sit on the potty throughout the day to become comfortable with it. Some accidents are normal, but if after several weeks your child still has frequent accidents or just isn't interested in the potty, take a break. You can try again in a month or two when the child might be more interested or ready for training.

When your little one is ready to learn, heap on the praise and encourage your "big girl" to go potty independently. Many parents swear by bribes and rewards, such as sticker charts. Remember, even if your child can use the potty during the day, she might not be capable of staying dry at night. Slip your tot into a pair of disposable training pants before bed for a better night's sleep.

Alhamdulillah, Hanie is closed to 90% potty trained. another 10% covers during sleep (i never want to take the risk of having her wet my bed!) and also during outing. Memang takut tak sempat nak cari toilet since i still dont know how long is the "tahan" period for her. Lissa dah boleh agak dah. more than 10 mins.

Making Friends

Your 3-year-old is ready and willing to make new friends, but he still needs some help from you. Arrange playdates with a small, regular group of peers. Three-year-olds tend to engage in parallel play, meaning playing next to, rather than with, other children. By sticking with the same kids, your child will have a chance to form relationships. Playdates are the perfect times to practice positive values, such as empathy and sharing. "Three-year-olds are not good sharers, but their awareness of other people's feelings is beginning to develop," says Susan S. Bartell, Ph.D., parenting psychologist and author of The Top 50 Questions Kids Ask. Nurture this by explaining why taking a toy makes his friend sad and by supervising short turns to encourage sharing. Keeping doubles of popular toys on hand can also help a playdate go smoothly.

This is another thing. i dont know how she behaved in school. but i know Lissa doing well with her 3 bff. Hanie as of now still tag along with her sister and assume that her sister's friends are hers as well.

Starting Activities

Toddler classes help your child learn and grow, and age 3 is the perfect time to try a group activity. Sports classes will teach your tots the basics of games such as soccer, basketball, and baseball while emphasizing teamwork and sharing. Or get them moving in tumbling and swim classes to develop flexibility, balance, and even overcome fear. For the creative kid, art and music classes are great ways to practice cognitive skills. No matter what type of activity you choose, your toddler will be learning important skills while having fun and making new friends. Check out your local YMCA, Gymboree, and fitness and community centers to see what classes they offer.

Yes, i can see that she now knows some songs, how to color though habis comot, know that she has to gather her stuff after play, ride a bicycle a bit. Not so much of having her sign up for the swimming class, but insyaAllah next year.

Doing Chores

Toddlers love to help around the house, and you'll be surprised by how much they can do! "Three-year-olds can understand and follow simple commands such as 'Take your plate to the sink' or 'Put the cars in the basket,'" Mosiman says. Give your tot a job when you make dinner or clean up -- it boosts his self-esteem and makes him feel like an important part of the household. But pay attention to your child's capabilities. If a task is too complicated, he might feel frustrated and overwhelmed. Chores are great ways to foster valuable habits early. Encourage your toddler to put his clothes in the hamper each day and to place toys back in bins and on shelves after playtime. Make cleanup more fun by setting a timer, playing music, or inventing a game.

This is TRUE!! sangat boleh diharap as compared to her sister. Lissa if dah mengadap tv, sorry lah nak suruh buat ape2. but Hanie, she'll help me with the clothes tho not that neat. 

Developing Language

By age 3, toddlers are talking a lot. Your toddler now has a vocabulary of about 300 words and can make simple, three-word sentences, Mosiman says. Even when your child is sitting quietly, she is soaking in your conversation. And she understands more than you think. What your toddler understands is called receptive language. It's an important part of language development. The best thing you can do to help develop your toddler's language is talk. Describe what you're doing, how the weather feels, the way your food tastes -- your little one will learn new words and better grammar.

Oh, this one tak payah mention. lebih kot dari 300 words. Kuat membebel. siap penah marah i lagi, "tulah mama, sape suruh put there? kan hanie dah jatuh" ok, blaming ur mom bcause u r the one who put things on the walkway. but the cutest way was when i asked something and she didnt know, she'll do this cute face and say, tataw...

Taming Tantrums

Three-year-olds are bound to burst into the occasional temper tantrum. But when your little guy has a meltdown, try to keep your cool and avoid yelling back when he is acting out. Instead, ignore your child's outburst and continue what you are doing. When he sees screaming will get him nowhere, he'll stop. Or try to distract your tot to instantly tame the tantrum. Make him laugh, tell a story with funny voices, or give him a little squeeze. After the tantrum subsides, hug him, say you love him, and move on. Above all, keep discipline consistent.

Oh my, this is the worst!! Even pagi tadi melalak tanak ke daycare. only my husband falls for this. ikut je la kata anak. i dont. tahan dengar dia melalak dari ikut kata dia. lol!

Sleeping Soundly

Your toddler recently switched from two naps to one, and now he thinks he's ready for no nap at all. Don't fall for it -- most kids will need a nap until age 5. Your child might, however, be ready for a new nap schedule. Instead of sticking to the clock, put your child down when he starts to get tired. If your little one refuses to nap, try a quiet time instead.

At bedtime, your child might stall to exercise control, even as his eyes droop shut. Stick to your routine -- such as bathtime, then reading before bed -- but let him make some decisions. Picking out his pajamas or choosing a story will make your child feel valued and more willing to climb into bed.

Pura-pura tidur

You can get a full story HERE.

All the best to mom out there. Just remember whenever you feel like screaming (i do!), take a deep breath and just scream!! lol!! No lah, just talk nicely to your 3-year-old. If he/she refused, you can go the time out thing or ignorance is a bliss!

Good Luck!

xoxo,

airin