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All ages

By age

3 Years

Longer sentences, pretend play, and helping around the house.

Developmental information

3 Years · Developmental information

Open the communication milestones checklist for 3 to 4 years

Source American Speech-Language and Hearing Association

3 Years · Developmental information

Open the CDC 3 years milestone checklist

Source CDC

Communication and play

3 Years · Communication and play

Open 6 games to play with toddlers, 2 to 3 years

Source Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University

Movement and hand skills

3 Years · Movement and hand skills

Squish and roll playdough

What this helps your child practice

Hand and finger muscles for writing, buttoning and cutting.

Materials needed

Playdough in different colors.

Simple instructions

  1. 1Let your child play with playdough by squishing it, pressing it, pinching it, and making balls in different colors.

Ways to include it in everyday routines

Not yet added by staff

Get a link to share

3 Years · Movement and hand skills

Help make meals

What this helps your child practice

Not yet added by staff

Materials needed

Fruits and vegetables to wash, and a bowl to stir.

Simple instructions

  1. 1Let your child help with making meals.
  2. 2Give them simple tasks, such as washing fruits and vegetables or stirring.

Ways to include it in everyday routines

Not yet added by staff

Get a link to share

3 Years · Movement and hand skills

Fill an activity box

What this helps your child practice

Not yet added by staff

Materials needed

Paper, crayons and coloring books.

Simple instructions

  1. 1Give your child an "activity box" with paper, crayons, and coloring books.
  2. 2Color and draw lines and shapes with your child.

Ways to include it in everyday routines

Not yet added by staff

Get a link to share

3 Years · Movement and hand skills

Thread large beads

What this helps your child practice

Not yet added by staff

Materials needed

Large beads and a shoelace, sturdy string or pipe cleaner.

Simple instructions

  1. 1Invite your child to thread large beads onto a shoelace, sturdy string, or pipe cleaner.

Ways to include it in everyday routines

Not yet added by staff

Get a link to share

3 Years · Movement and hand skills

Tear paper and glue it

What this helps your child practice

Not yet added by staff

Materials needed

Colorful paper and glue.

Simple instructions

  1. 1Give your child colorful paper to tear into small pieces.
  2. 2Help them glue the pieces onto a larger sheet of paper to create a picture or design.

Ways to include it in everyday routines

Not yet added by staff

Get a link to share

3 Years · Movement and hand skills

Follow the leader

What this helps your child practice

Not yet added by staff

Materials needed

None. Just you and your child.

Simple instructions

  1. 1Walk in a straight line, make turns, walk backwards, and walk on tiptoes.
  2. 2Let your child lead after you show them how.

Ways to include it in everyday routines

Not yet added by staff

Get a link to share

Feeding

Approved Feeding material for 3 Years is not in the hub yet. This is not published yet. Staff: add approved wording in the Liftoff content file.

Watch these

Short clips of what these moments can look like. Direct links are still being added by staff, so open the Liftoff hub page to watch them.

  • Talks well enough for strangers to understand them most of the time
  • Draws a circle
Open the 3 Years page in the Liftoff hub

When to ask for help

You know your child best. Raise any of these with your pediatrician or your child's therapy team.

  • Is difficult for familiar people to understand or is not speaking in short sentences.
  • Has difficulty understanding or following simple directions.
  • Shows little interest in playing with other children or engaging in pretend play.
  • Has difficulty running, jumping, climbing stairs, or participating in age-appropriate playground activities.
  • Has difficulty using crayons, stacking blocks, turning pages, or completing simple self-care tasks such as using utensils or dressing.
  • Has significant difficulty with mealtimes, chewing, or eating a variety of foods.
  • Frequently becomes overwhelmed by everyday sounds, textures, or changes in routine, making it difficult to participate in daily activities.
  • Loses skills they previously had.
  • You have concerns about your child's communication, feeding, play, behavior, learning, or overall development.