How independent is your 3 year old?

[Lucy304]

Currently we are...
Still working on toilet training.
Using a fork and spoon to eat, no knife yet.
Dressing / undressing our DD.
Still guiding teeth brushing and hand washing.
Interested to hear what other children of a similar age can do for themselves. DD is 3 years 4 months. She's a PFB so there's every possibility we are babying her too much 😂! Just don't want her to be miles behind when she starts nursery in September.
Thank you

I think it's great to want to make sure little one isn't behind but honestly ive found there's so much unnecessary pressure put on parents at this age especially starting nursery. Mine was still in nappies until reception. Nursery helps out alot too. That's when they become more independent. As long as you're trying and heading in the right direction that's all that counts. And it sounds like that's exactly what you're doing.

I have a nearly four year old that can't wipe his bum properly, struggles to put his coat on , can manage to put socks on but only if it's those larger fleece socks otherwise normal tighter socks are impossible for him, can't button himself up, doesn't use knife and fork but can use fork and spoon. I sometimes pick him up from nursery where he has used the toilet and the elastic ends of his pants are folded in and his trousers are half done up. They are so small and vulnerable. The key worker keeps on telling me he needs to be much more independent because he will start reception soon but honestly I think they are so small and so much pressure on parents. He can't hold a pencil mostly like because the bones and muscles haven't developed and still has those baby hands and how the hell is he meant to do all buttons, socks, hold a pencil. He has been playing with play dough, sand and trying to use scissors forever now but I'm not sure what's going to happen in reception.

DD1 is a few months older, so if I look back a few months she was:

• Toilet trained, but needed help wiping for poos
• Fine with fork and spoon, would make an attempt to spread with a knife (butter, jam, etc.) or to cut very soft things, but certainly couldn't use fork and knife for a whole meal
• Just cracking dressing/undressing with the aid of a star chart – she needed the extra bit of motivation to get her to attempt it often enough to make progress. Socks followed a few months later, and tights will be awhile yet, I think. Still can't start a zip or do many buttons, but is getting better at unbuttoning.
• We still rebrush her teeth, I don't think you're advised to stop that for awhile yet. Hands, she's capable of doing it well herself, but faffs about and takes ages, so we tend to prompt her.

So perhaps a little bit further along, but certainly not miles. She's at nursery, and they've never expressed any concerns.

@Mumtoboys1 @fundhermental @skkyelark
Thank you all for taking the time to reply to my thread. When I posted I had just finished reading a 'Ready for Nursery' leaflet from our local school, and was freaking out a bit. Reading your responses, I feel like DD will probably be okay. Over the next couple of months we will start encouraging more independence but I will try very hard not to get stressed about it! Thanks again x

My DS1 is 3 years 5 months.

He is toilet trained in the daytime but still wears a nappy at night, and sometimes holds his poo so he can do it in his nappy 🙄

Used a spoon and fork to eat as well, and we still cut his food up for him if needed. He tries to spread butter on bread but can't really do it.

Can put on pants and trousers, can take pants, trousers, tops and socks off, but can't manage putting socks on by himself.

Has a good go at brushing his teeth but we do it again afterwards for him. Can wash his hands independently but makes a mess of the bathroom when he does.

Can't hold a pen properly yet and his drawings are still scribbles, he will tell us what they represent but they don't look like it at all.