Pediatric Associates of Austin, P.A.
MY THREE YEAR OLD VISIT
What I can do now
I can jump in place.
I can ride a tricycle
I can feed myself with a cup, spoon, and fork.
I can kick a ball.
I can climb stairs up and down.
I will use the potty with few accidents.
I can tell others my name, age, and sex, and almost everyone can understand most of my speech. I usually speak in full sentences and use plurals.
I like to listen to you read me stories.
Help me learn what to eat
I can use my own fork, spoon, and cup.
I need three meals and two to three snacks a day.
Keep my snacks healthy. I like candy and chips, but they should only be rare treats.
We should share meals as a family whenever possible- I am old enough now to make mealtime a family fun time. Sit down with me at meals when I eat.
Do not let me run or play while eating.
Serve a variety of healthy foods. I will eat what is familiar.
Avoid foods that might choke me like peanuts, hard candy, gum and hot dogs (unless you cut the hot dogs into pea sized pieces).
You will need to help me cut up my food.
Protect my teeth
If I have not visited the dentist in the last six months, call and make an appointment for me. I should be seeing my dentist twice a year.
I can brush my teeth, but I will still need teaching and help with brushing and flossing. Be sure my teeth are brushed with a soft toothbrush and a dot of toothpaste with fluoride every day.
Concerns for Mom and Dad
Sleeping
Keep up my bedtime ritual. A routine like bath, brushing teeth, bedtime story, and looking over my books decreases tears.
Please keep my bedtime consistent – for my sake and yours!
If you want, I should be able to sleep all night in my own bed now.
Do not let me watch TV right before bedtime. It excites me.
Some gearing down time will help me get to sleep.
I usually will take one nap a day now, but I may grow out of it by the end of this year.
Toilet Training
I may be fully or partially potty trained now. But I may still wet my bed at night for years to come.
At times I am too busy to remember to go to the bathroom and may need to be reminded to take a bathroom break every two or three hours during the day.
Let me take control here. Punishing for accidents or pushing to the potty will only make this take longer.
Discipline
Give me lots of praise for behavior that you want to see more often.
Please use discipline to teach me and keep me safe. Be positive. I respond best to positive discipline that emphasizes good choices and reinforces good behaviors. Make sure my day care and baby-sitters all follow the no hitting or spanking rules.
Please take time to enjoy being with me in these exciting years. I like to spend time one-on-one with just mom or dad doing things that we can both enjoy together.
Try to ignore undesirable or negative behavior that does not hurt others or me.
When I need limits set, try distraction, gentle restraint, or separations from the object or from others until I can control my undesirable behavior.
Help me to learn and play
I need a safe place to play and enough room to run, jump, and somersault.
I can play with others now.
Read to me for at least twenty minutes a day.
I like to help you do simple tasks. I can put napkins on the table, match socks, pick up my toys, and straighten my bed.
Limit my TV time to no more than an hour per day of appropriate programs. Watch with me sometimes.
I like toys that I can put together and take apart like legos and blocks.
Some toys help me have fun – dress up, hats, farm animals, pretending.
Family
It helps me to understand closeness if you show affection in the family and you spend some time with each member of the family
Parents need some adult time without me. That helps them to relax around me.
Teach me to understand that my body belongs to me.
Keep me safe
Keep me from being burned. I am tall enough to reach the stove and counters in the kitchen and bathroom. Keep pan handles turned toward the back of the stove. Set hot water heaters at 120° F. Keep cigarettes, lighters, and matches out of sight and out of reach. Cover electric outlets. Do not leave irons in my reach.
Always put me in a car seat until I weigh at least 40 pounds and reach to the top harness straps. Then I can graduate to a booster seat.
I am still too little to hold sharp knives or scissors.
It is best if guns are kept out of homes with children. If this is not possible, all guns should be stored unloaded and locked, with ammunition kept separately.
Do not leave me alone around water, in a wading pool or in the bathtub.
If you want to enroll me in a swimming program, choose one that does not require me to put my head under water. Find a program that allows parents to be involved in all activities.
Choose a water-resistant or waterproof sunscreen. Reapply every 2 hours. Sunscreens should be used for sun protection and not as a reason to stay in the sun longer.
Immunizations
I should be up to date with all my immunizations until my four-year check-up now. Please check with my doctor to be sure.
Before my 4 year old visit I will
Be able to sing a song.
Tell others my first and last names. Know my gender and that of others.
Talk about my experiences and activities during the day.
Tell what is fantasy and what is reality.
Use 4-5 word sentences and use past tense.
Hop on one foot
Throw a ball overhand
Stack up 10 blocks.