Enormous developmental changes occur during the preschool years for every child. They will be learning new things and trying to become more and more independent day by day. From crawling to playing and running, a baby does come to a long way indeed. Every 3 years and 7 months old child will have his or her own unique pace of development but in the end, there are some universal milestones that every child achieves.
Weight and height
During the preschool years of a child, he or she grows her body parts which develop about 90 % by the age of 4. During these times, it is normal for a child to gain some weight and grow taller. An average of 3 years and 7-month-old boy will have a weight of 26 pounds to 38 pounds and girls will have a weight of 26 to 29 pounds. As for the height, the toddler boy will grow taller from 35.5 to 40.5 inches and toddler girl will grow from 34.5 to 40 inches.
Your baby’s milestones
• Physical development
By the age of 3 years and 7 months, your child will surely be able to do some physical activities which tell you that he/she has developed some physical strength. At this age, the child can walk without any support, they can jump on 2 feet, use the toilet, can hold a pencil or crayon in between the thumb and a finger, and catch a ball with two small hands.
• Cognitive development
By the age of 3 years and 7 months, your baby will be able to develop some sense of counting, alphabets, toys through rhymes and signing mostly. He or she can follow simple instructions like ‘put the toys in a basket’, ‘come, eat snacks’, and ‘watch the TV’. He or she can speak for themselves with some understanding.
• Social development
Children of this age come to realize the concept of friends and outdoors. He or she shows interest in other people besides the parents. They may imagine having a playmate when nobody is available.
About your toddler’s health & nutrition
After 3 and a half years, your child will be open to eating the things you cook normally in your home. An average of 3 years and 7-month-old toddler would need 1000 to 1400 calories per day through dairy products, protein, fruits, vegetables, and snacks.
Suggestion on the activities
• Be consistent with your child’s routine because, at this age, they may have a few tantrums to mess up everything
• Encourage them when they do positive things by clapping or hugging them but if they do negative things, just be patient, and let them know why it’s wrong.