A Case Study of a Child Age 3

MEGAN WAKEFIELD

EDU 220
Physical Behaviors

Runs

Jumps

Climbs

Feeds self

Finger paint

Simple puzzles

Child development institute (2015)

Typical Physical Development by Snowman

Extremely active, always on the go.

Have good control of their bodies at this age.

Large muscle control is better established than small muscle control.

Clumsy, and unable to tie shoes or button clothes.

Capable of carrying out a simple command.

Will have mood swings/ meltdowns.

Can Dress self fairly well.

Snowman j & McCown R. (2013)

My 3 Year Olds Physical Behavior/ characteristics

The 3-year-old girl I observed matched the characteristics of physical developments for her age.

She showed great control with her body and had high energy through most of the day. She did

experience some unstable moments when holding smaller objects. she seemed to drop smaller

items quite often. Overall, she is right on track with what her physical development should be.
Physical Development Recommendations

Provide lots of room and many opportunities in which child can use arms and legs. (University of

Washington. 1993)

Provide activities that use fingers: clay, blocks, finger paint, dressing activities, and ext.

(University of Washington. 1993)

Slowly start toilet training. (University of Washington. 1993)

Let child feed self. (University of Washington. 1993)

Emotional Behaviors

Sensitive about other feelings.

Start developing independence.

Fear of animals, strangers, and dark.

Seeking adult approval.

(University of Washington. 1993)

Typical Emotional Development by Snowman

Can tell when someone is sad, happy, angry, and ext.

When mad, have impulses to hit or push, so to some extent are they able to controls their

emotions.

Have a hard time reflecting on own thoughts.

Jealousy is common in this age.

Snowman j & McCown R.

My 3 Year Olds Emotional Behaviors/ Characteristics

while observing her emotional characteristics I noticed she did not want to share whatever she

had, she also became jealous often. She got jealous when someone had a toy she wanted, and she
became jealous when a child got more attention than she. The 3-year-old did show an amount of

compassion for a child that got hurt.

Emotional Development Recommendations

Explain why we feel the way we do about things and how to deal with each emotion. (Snowman j

& McCown R. 2013)

Develop warm relationship with child. (Child development institute 2015)

Encourage independent activities. (University of Washington. 1993)

Offer love, understanding, and patience. (University of Washington. 1993)

Cognitive/ intellectual Behaviors

Continues to learn through senses. (University of Washington. 1993)

Uses imagination a lot. (University of Washington. 1993)

Begins to realize cause and effect. (University of Washington. 1993)

Is very curious at this age and likes to ask “how” and “why” a lot. (University of Washington.

1993)

Typical Cognitive/ Intellectual Development

Likes to play grown up and pretends to have a family or job. (University of Washington. 1993)

By age 3, most children realize the difference between thinking about something and actually

doing it. (Snowman, J. & McCown, R. 2013)

Beginning to recognize that everyone thinks differently. (Snowman, J. & McCown, R. 2013)

My 3 Year Olds Cognitive Behaviors/ Characteristics

I observed cognitive development when the 3-year-old girl was playing house. She played the

role of mom and had two baby dolls she used as her children.

Cognitive/ Intellectual Development Recommendations

Provide props for dramatic play. (University of Washington. 1993)

Explain cause and effect. (University of Washington. 1993)

Answer child's questions honestly. (University of Washington. 1993)

Psychosocial/ Social Behaviors

Have one or more stable friendships. (Snowman, J. & McCown, R. 2013)

Can leave mother for short periods of time. (University of Washington. 1993)

Notices differences in the way men and women act. (Child development institute 2015)

Become more interested in others. (University of Washington. 1993)

Typical Psychosocial/ Social Development by Erikson

Autonomy vs shame and doubt

Establishing the begging of independence.

At this point a child of this age should be making Progress in toilet training.

Toddlers whose parents are impatient and intervene too often are likely to develop feelings of

self-doubt.

(Snowman, J. & McCown, R. 2013)

My 3 Year Olds Psychosocial Behaviors/ Characteristics

While observing the girl, I noticed she had formed some relationships with a couple of children

and was able to trust her caregiver. This young girl was developed very well, socially and had no

problem interacting with others.

Psychosocial/ Social Development Recommendations

Don’t push a child to do something he or she does not feel comfortable doing, let them test their

own limits.
Give positive feedback because children at this age will doubt themselves.

Moral/ Character Behaviors

Begins to know right from wrong.

Finds opinions of others to be important and will look up to adults.

Children around this age will use extreme verbal threats.

(University of Washington. 1993)

Typical Moral/ Character Development by Kohlberg

Children at this age want to follow the rules, they like routines. (Snowman, J. & McCown, R.

2013)

Will say things like “I will kill you” not knowing the actual meaning and harshness of the word.

(University of Washington. 1993)

My 3 Year Olds Moral Behaviors/ Characteristics

While observing her moral characterize I noticed she did not want to share a toy and would say

“no”, but then she would notice the disappointment of another child, she wanted to share. She

seemed to notice the other children's emotions and would adjust her reactions to accommodate

others.

Moral/ Character Development Recommendations

Provide clear limits, like when they can and cannot do something. (University of Washington.

1993)

Praise child when you honestly can. (University of Washington. 1993)

Reinforce child's self-control. (University of Washington. 1993)

Don’t take threats personally or too seriously. (University of Washington. 1993)

PBS Parents. (2017). Child development tracker Ages 2- 8. Retrieved from

[Link] (Links to an external site.)Links to an

external site.

Snowman, J. & McCown, R. (2013). ED PSYCH. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, Cengage

Learning.

University of Washington. (1993). Child development: Using the child development guide.

Retrieved from

[Link] ts/training/chidev/[Link] (Links to

an enternal site.)Links to an external site. (Links to an external site.)

Child Development Institute (2015). The ages and stages of child development. Retrieved from

[Link]

Center for Disease Control and Prevention. (2017). Child development. Retrieved from

[Link] (Links to an external site.)