Your child grows immensely from birth through the age of 3. Changes in physical appearance, as well as cognition occur rapidly and soon your child can carry on a short conversation with you. Understanding the importance of the first three years of life will help you understand how what you do now, impacts the future success of your child.
Significance
According to the University of Missouri, the milestones reached during the first three years of life set the foundation for future growth and development. Helping children feel safe, secure and loved during infancy and encouraging exploration and independence in toddlers creates responsible adults. Encouraging and positively influencing your child's development during the first three years will increase his later success in life.
Areas of Development
The Healthy Children website outlines the developmental milestones your child will reach by the age of 3. In the first three years your child learns to walk unassisted, run, stand on tiptoe and kick a ball. Socially, your child realizes her status as a separate entity from you and enjoys the company of friends. Cognitively, your child explores the difference between make-believe and reality through imaginative play and can separate items by color or shape.
Potty Training
Potty training should be achieved by the age of 3. According to the University of Missouri, potty training signifies an important step towards independence in toddlers, representing the ability of your child to control his body. Extra attention and affection help the transition from diapers to using the toilet. When your child shows signs of readiness, develop a plan to share with caregivers to help the process by maintaining consistency throughout your child's day.
Typical Challenges
According to the Zero to Three website, typical challenges faced during the first three years include aggression, defiance, inconsolable crying, a child who is slow-to-warm-up and sleep issues. Your child may act aggressively to communicate feelings. You should help your child understand and express her feelings through acceptable, non-aggressive methods.
As your child discovers her existence as a separate entity from you, she may exert her independence through defiance. Finding ways to allow your child some control over her life and make her own positive choices will reduce defiance and increase her confidence.
Babies cry to communicate hunger, sleepiness or discomfort. However, when a baby cries inconsolably she may have a temporary condition known as colic.
Slow-to-warm-up children may appear anxious when meeting new people or have difficulty being away from trusted caregivers. Structured activities and giving your child plenty of time to transition to new situations will help.
Sleep issues include babies who want to be held constantly while sleeping or children who do not sleep through the night. You should create a bedtime routine for your child and gently handle any nighttime wake-ups.
Considerations
Children develop at different rates and children with intellectual disabilities may not develop on par with others in the same physical age group. You must consider the mental age of your child when considering issues surrounding children in the first three years of life. If you have concerns about your child's development, the First Signs website recommends arranging a routine developmental screening for your child.
