He can walk along a curb, climb up the steps of a slide, use a monkey bar, ride a bicycle, dodge when chased, and carry large toys.
He can learn to swim, skate, ski, dance and use a trampoline.
A new creative technique can keep him engrossed for extended periods of time.
He is starting to add details to drawings; they may be large and he does not count how many should be there, so that people may have three enormous fingers and houses are filled with windows.
He may print his name on his paintings.
He understands that other people have thoughts, experiences and feelings that are different from his own and begins to take this into account in his interactions with others.
He explains what happened when he knows you were not there.
He moves in a more grown-up way, although he lacks an adult's strength and foresight.
Toys for learning shapes, colours, numbers and letters
Simple board games
Simple computer programs for early learning
Two-wheeled bike with training wheels and helmet
Variety of sport balls, e.g., soccer, football, kickball, super bounce ball
Climbing gyms with slides and ladders
Dollhouses and accessories
Why your baby will enjoy this toy now:
Imagination is probably in full gear by now, so portable playsets that encourage a child to enjoy imaginative play while relating it to real-world activities are great.
What you can do to help your baby learn more with:
If you have the space, set up your child's dollhouse and furnishings where they won't have to be put away when she's done playing for the day. Dollhouse play is the type most little girls will come back to day after day; it will extend their interest if they can pick up their "story" where they left it off.
If your child has one or more playsets to go with her dollhouse, help her set them up together. Maybe there’s even a school or a playground that will help create a town. Some dollhouse sets are even small enough for tabletop play, and so compact and portable that she can pack them up and take the fun along.
Whenever you take your child's play world and relate it to her real world experience, you extend her interest in the play. Talk about the playground in your neighborhood, if you have one; if you don't, ask her to tell you what she likes to do best when you do visit a playground.
Playsets are great conversation starters. Talk about a real-life scenario that might take place in her play world. "How are you going to get the baby to sleep?" "What shall we cook for dinner?"
If your child is playing by herself, encourage her to tell you a story about what's going on in her pretend world. This will help her put words with her imaginative thoughts and give her confidence vocalizing her ideas. Or, make up a play together and act out the parts.
Real electronics of their very own are sure to make preschoolers feel very grown up, at an age when they understand the benefits of sharing ideas and become more aware of the art of communicating. Taking photographs encourages children to express what they see in a different way. With a simple-to-use digital camera that makes picture-taking more successful, preschoolers can shoot images that have personal meaning, then view them and even print their own pictures. Similarly, a music player nurtures expression through language as a child sings along to music or listens to stories on tape.
What you can do to help your baby learn more with:
Talk about the different ways we record events in their lives. Explain why people keep diaries, journals and scrapbooks. Encourage your child to do the same with drawing. He could draw a picture of something he ate that day, for example, someone he played with or a favourite adventure.
Have your child take pictures of his favourite things. These could include his favourite food, stuffed animal, toy, or anything else he cherishes. He can share it with a teacher, send it to a distant relative or give it to a new friend who wants to know more about him!
If your child enjoys listening to music, he’ll have a ball listening to himself making music! Record him singing a song and play it back. If you’re brave enough, have him record you, too!
Taking pictures is a great opportunity for your child to refine her observation skills. As you look for subjects, talk about how faraway objects look bigger as you approach them.
“Zoom” in on objects with something other than a camera. Use a magnifying glass to study insects. Visit a science museum to look into a telescope or microscope. Your child can have lots of fun just studying her features in a magnifying mirror.
At home and in the car, expose your child to a wide array of music styles. As you listen to a particular song or composition, ask her if she can identify any of the instruments: “Can you hear the drums?” Talk about the mood the music creates: “Does this music sound sad or happy?”
All children develop at their own pace, and reach milestones at different times. The highlights mentioned in this web site are meant as approximate guidelines only. If you have any questions about your child's development, consult your healthcare provider.
