Autumn 2011 - Mandy Mazliah

Raising children
Meet your three year-old…
Favourite tips for handling this
age group include setting aside 20
minutes every day for one-on-one
time; teaching your child how to use
words instead of violence; staying
calm. Etc etc. We’ve read the books,
we know the theory. But in practice,
when you’re so frustrated you feel
like putting your head through a
window, what works? The box below
contains tips from parents who have
been there.
Ultimately we can all take comfort
in the knowledge that phases pass.
With luck our children will not be
permanently scarred as we learn
how to be parents through them and
their behavioural foibles, and they
will continue to be the infuriating,
hilarious, horrible, delightful little
people we love so fiercely.
And who knows, maybe there is a
magical age when they stop causing
you so much grief. 21, anyone?
Ali Cronin is mum to Lola, 3, and
Eve, 1, and is a freelance writer.
www.alicronin.com.
• He seeks attention and approval
of adults
• He sometimes shows preference
for one parent (often the parent of
the opposite sex)
• He accepts suggestions and
follows simple directions
• He enjoys helping with simple
household tasks
• He enjoys making others laugh
and being silly
• He enjoys playing alone but near
other children
• He spends a great deal of time
watching and observing
• He enjoys playing with other
children briefly, but still doesn’t
cooperate or share well
• He enjoys hearing stories about
himself
• He answers whether he is a boy
or a girl
• He talks so that 75 to 80 percent
of his speech is understandable
• He talks in complete sentences of
3 to 5 words. “Mummy is drinking
juice.” Or “ There’s a big dog.”
• He listens attentively to short
stories and books
• He likes familiar stories told
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without any changes in words
He enjoys listening to stories and
repeating simple rhymes
He’s able to tell simple stories
from pictures or books
He enjoys singing and can carry a
simple tune
He understands “now, soon, and
later”
He asks who, what, where, and
why questions
He can stack five to seven blocks
He enjoys playing with clay or play
dough
He can use the toilet by himself
He can brush teeth, wash hands
and get a drink
He tries to catch a large ball
He can draw a circle and square
He sleeps 10 to 12 hours at night
He sleeps through most nights
without wetting the bed
He needs approximately 1,300
calories daily
He weighs between 1 st 11lbs and
3st 2lbs
He’s about 75cm to 95cm tall
He can put on shoes but he can’t
tie laces yet
How to handle your Threenager (by those who’ve been there)
1. “Very clear boundaries help with behaviour – the naughty stair at that age worked for me (it’s now moved to time out
in bedroom). Also be persistent and carry through your threats.” Nicola, mum to Lucy, 4, and ex-childminder.
2. “Giving Lola to the count of three to do what I’ve asked is the only thing that works. If we reach three, her current
favourite toy is put away until bedtime.” Ali, mum to Lola, 3, and Eve, 1.
3. “I try to get Samuel to tell me why he is feeling the way he is. Quite often that diffuses the situation even though he
can’t always express it – sometimes he just wants to be heard.” Rae, mum to Samuel, 3, and Millie, 1.
4. “No matter how difficult they have been that day, or that night, don’t carry it through to the next day. A new day
dawns, and they won’t remember how they turned into monsters for a few hours the previous day!” Nicola, as before
5. “Sometimes it feels impossible to stay calm, but it’s amazing how much more effective I am when I do.” Anna, mum
to Ben, 6, and Adam, 3.
Newsletter Winter 17