Three Year Visit
Parenting
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You learned parenting skills from your own parents. Think about what kind
of parent you want to be. Show affection in your family and to your
children. Handle anger constructively—show respect in your words and
actions. Shouting at children is rarely effective. Use of time outs is a
good way for everyone to cool down.
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If your child shows violent behavior or bites or hits others, stop it immediately
and talk about how it makes the other person feel. Teach your child to
apologize.
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Set limits and reinforce appropriate behavior. Make sure other caregivers
and relatives are consistent.
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Give your child opportunities to learn to make choices. Give a limited number
of choices such as asking if he would like to wear the blue shirt or the yellow
shirt, or read one book or another. Give your child the independence to
dress and eat but supervise the choices available.
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Read, sing and playing rhyming games together. Talk about pictures in books.
Let your child begin to tell the stories from books. Look for ways to
practice reading wherever you go, like looking at STOP signs or boxes in the
supermarket.
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Encourage your child to talk to you about their experiences.
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Encourage play with age appropriate toys in a safe environment.
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If your child is not in daycare or preschool, make sure he has opportunities to
interact with other children.
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Encourage interactive games that teach children to take turns.
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Promote physical activity. Limit TV time.
Safety
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Continue to use a forward facing care seat, properly installed in the back seat
of your vehicle. Switch to a belt positioning booster seat only when your
child reaches the weight/height requirements.
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Your child should not be exposed to second hand smoke. Do not smoke in
your home or car. If you smoke and want to quit, please ask your physician
for resources.
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Supervise all play. Do not ask young children to supervise a brother or sister.
Teach children not to go into the street. Do not allow children to cross
the street alone.
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Remove guns from home, or store unloaded and locked with ammunition locked
separately. Ask if guns are in homes where your child plays.
Nutrition
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Continue to introduce new foods in a matter of fact way. Your child will
develop food preferences but you need to help provide a balanced intake of all
four food groups.
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Avoid using food as a reward.
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Now is the time to start reinforcing healthy eating habits. Avoid fast food
and junk food.
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Give your child low fat milk and water. Avoid juice and sugary drinks.
Oral Health
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Brush teeth in the morning and before bed with a pea sized drop of toothpaste.
Have your child spit out the toothpaste.
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See a dentist twice each year to promote good oral health.
