Development at 31 Months
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Activity 1
Age Appropriate Speech, Language And Communication Development
Identifies Body Parts On Picture
 This activity is similar to the previous activities on body parts except I am now able to point to body parts on a picture. I am usually able to spontaneously point to body parts on pictures that you name or which I name myself. This activity points out an important clue to my development. It shows that I understand that pictures can represent the real object and is therefore similar! I usually develop the ability to identify body parts on pictures between 30 and 36 months. |
Steps
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Prepare a Velcro face with detachable features.
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Ask your child to identify parts of the face.
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Have fun putting the Velcro face back together.
Feedback
 Your child is beginning to understand how to locate body parts on a picture. If the task appears to be too difficult a game for him now. You can help him familiarize himself with the body parts first and then let him use pictures to tell you where the parts are. Look at the suggested activities for more ideas.
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Make use of any opportunities you can to teach him about body parts. When you go to the beach, draw a sand picture of a 'person' and you can start guessing. Alternatively, you can take turns to draw a certain part of the body. In a competitive style, it can be pretty fun.
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Magazines have many pictures of people. For e.g. when you are pointing out Santa Claus, also point out his body parts.
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Use photographs of actual people to teach body parts before progressing to picture drawings of people.
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Activity 2
Age Appropriate Cognitive Development
Completes Three To Four Pieces Of A Jigsaw Puzzle
 When you give me a 3-4 piece interlocking puzzle, I'm able to put it together. This is because I'm relating and orientating the different parts of the puzzle to the actual object. For example, in a puzzle of a cat, I know that the head is in front, the tail is at the back, while the legs are at the bottom. I will do this between 30 and 36 months. |
Steps
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Show a finished 4 piece puzzle.
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Label the picture and identify the parts.
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Break the pieces up.
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Ask your child to try putting the pieces together.
Feedback
Your child is developing good visual spatial skills in this activity. He is able to relate the parts of the animal puzzle in relation to the animal as a whole. This skill is very appropriate for children between 30 and 36 months.
Take a look at to suggested activities for more ideas on this skill.
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 Buy him different types of puzzles. Each piece represents a smaller part of the whole animal. Challenge him by slowly increasing the number of parts he has to put together. It will be good that in time, he is able to complete more complex puzzles, i.e. more pieces.
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More importantly, describe the parts of the puzzle after the child has completed it. This description helps the child understand that the parts of objects and pictures have a particular space in the whole picture, be it on top, at the bottom, the side, etc.
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Make your own puzzles. Cut up a picture of an animal from a magazine into 3-5 parts. Do not cut randomly. Instead cut leaving parts that the child can identify (e.g. the head, hand, legs, etc). Have your child put them together.
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If your child finds the puzzle difficult, start with a simpler two-piece interlocking puzzle and slowly increase to 3 and then 4 pieces. This creates success and motivation in completing a greater number of puzzle pieces.
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Buy puzzles with a frame. Frameless puzzles may be difficult for some children at this age.
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Buy puzzles with small knobs for easy handling.
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