Developmental Concerns

By 3-4 most children can:

• Use short sentences (3-4 words or more)
• Ask simple questions ("Why", "What is that?")
• Tell you about something that happened
• Follow 2-step directions ("Get your coat and put it on")
• Are understood most of the time by familiar adults

When you might be concerned:

• Child is very hard to understand
• Child is not speaking in short phrases
• Child is not responding to their name
• Child is losing words they have previously used

Big Movements (Gross Motor Skills)

By 3-4 most children can:

• Run without frequently falling
• Jump with two feet
• Climb stairs with support

When you might be concerned:

• Child is frequently falling
• Child has very stiff or floppy movements
• Child avoids playground equipment

Small Movements (Fine Motor Skills)

By 3-4 most children can:

• Stack Blocks
• Hold crayons and scribble
• Try simple puzzles
• Begin drawing simple shapes by about age 4

When you might be concerned:

• Child avoids using their hands
• Child has difficulty holding objects
• Child struggles with basic hand activities

By 3-4 most children can:

• Make eye contact
• Play near or with other children
• Pretend (feed a doll, cook pretend food, etc)
• Show different emotions
• Separate from caregivers with growing independence

When you might be concerned:

• Child gives limited eye contact
• Child shows little interest in other children
• Child does not engage in any pretend play
• Child has very intense tantrums

By 3-4 most children can:

• Match colors and shapes
• Follow simple routines
• Show curiosity
• Try new activities
• Understand simple cause and effect

When you might be concerned:

• Child has difficulty following simple directions
• Child has very limited play skills
• Child has a loss of previously learned skills