2025 – PAGE 193 – DEVELOPMENTAL MILESTONES & ANTICIPATORY GUIDANCE
SURVEILLANCE MILESTONES – 3 YEARS OF AGE
| AGE | LANGUAGE &
COMMUNICATION |
MOVEMENT & PHYSICAL | COGNITIVE | SOCIAL &
EMOTIONAL |
| 3 yo
“fork” |
Converses with you with at least 2 back-and-forth exchanges; asks “W” questions like “who,” “what,” “where,” and “why”; identifies actions (e.g., “running!”) when looking at pictures; can tell you their first name; has majority of speech understood by others | Can string things together (e.g., beads for a necklace); can independently put on loose clothes; uses a fork to eat | Can copy a circle that you draw; pays attention to warnings about touching hot things | Calms within 10 minutes of being dropped off somewhere; plays spontaneously with random children. |
MNEMONIC STORY: Imagine a 3-year-old cartoon character named FORKY. Forky is a 3-pronged fork who is always asking “WHO, WHAT, WHERE, AND WHY” because she is very curious. She loves to ask questions and she also loves to talk and usually has AT LEAST TWO EXCHANGES in all of her conversations. Even though she speaks Forkish, the MAJORITY OF HER SPEECH IS UNDERSTOOD by others. One cold winter morning, Forky PUT ON HER JACKET BY HERSELF and then started to reach for the piping hot pot to pour her mom a cup of coffee to be helpful. Her mom noticed and quickly WARNED HER ABOUT TOUCHING HOT THINGS. Forky listened and stayed away from the coffee pot until it was time to go to daycare. When her mom dropped her off at daycare, Forky started crying. WITHIN 10 MINUTES OF BEING DROPPED OFF, though Forky CALMED HERSELF DOWN. When she saw some children playing in the art room, she went over and SPONTANEOUSLY PLAYED WITH 3 RANDOM CHILDREN. One boy asked for her name, and she TOLD HIM HER FIRST NAME. The two quickly become friends and they start making a friendship bracelet for each other. Forky STRINGS TOGETHER BEADS to make a small CIRCULAR bracelet for her new friend. Her teacher took an adorable picture of the two making the bracelets together to show to Forky’s mom later. Forky couldn’t wait to tell her mom about all the activities she did that day.
3-YEAR-OLD MILESTONES TO KEEP ON YOUR RADAR
| AGE | LANGUAGE | GROSS MOTOR | FINE MOTOR | COGNITIVE | SOCIAL | RED FLAGS |
| 3 yo | Uses 3-word sentences; asks short questions; uses plurals | Stands on one foot for 1-2s; uses toilet with help; walks up stairs with alternating feet; jumps down from one step; tiptoes; rides a tricycle | Stacks 8–10 cubes; draws a head | Daytime continence; knows simple adjectives (hungry, tired); can match circles and squares; knows first and last name; counts to 4 | Makes others laugh | Lacks 3-word phrases; speech is mostly unintelligible to strangers; trouble with comprehension |