Development at 38 Months
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Activity 1
Age Appropriate Gross Motor Development
Balances On Tip-Toes For Ten Seconds
 I am learning to balance on tip-toes! Ask me to stand on tip-toes and observe if I am able to balance on tip-toes for 10 seconds. My feet should be kept apart like the width of my hips and my foot should make an angle of at least 45 degrees with the ground. I usually develop the ability to balance on tip-toes for 10 seconds between 38 and 42 months (3 year 2 months and 3 year 6 months). |
Steps
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Ask your child to stand up on tip-toes.
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His feet should be kept apart like the width of his hips.
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His foot should make an angle of at least 45 degrees with the ground.
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Observe if he is able to balance on tip-toes for 10 seconds.
Feedback
Your child is developing excellent calf muscle control and balance to be able to balance on tip-toes for 10 seconds! Standing up on tiptoes also helps your child develop joint awareness sense in the legs. However, for some children who have a natural tendency to walk on tiptoes, the calf muscles may be overactive. You may need to consult a pediatrician or child physiotherapist for this. You may look at the suggested activities for more ideas with this task.
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Incorporate balancing on tip-toes into games and dances so that your child gets lots of opportunities to work his calf muscles!
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Let your child stand facing a wall. Ask him to place his hands in front of him on the wall and let the spider (his fingers) climb up the wall. As his fingers climb up higher, he will have to go up on his tip-toes. Let him keep the spider high up for as long as he can before letting the spider climb down. As his ability increases, let him put less weight through his hands. He should not be leaning into the wall.
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Play a game where your child must keep his feet on a piece of paper while the music is on. Once the music stops, fold the piece of paper so that he has a smaller area to stand on. Get the music going again. In the last round, fold the paper lengthwise to make it narrower so that he has to stand on his tip-toes for as long as he can. Play it in a group so that everyone has fun together!
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Allow your child to reach for a toy on a shelf so that he needs to tiptoe to get it. You may allow him to use a low chair or table for support while going up on tiptoes. Gradually decrease the amount of support given.
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Let your child go up onto tiptoes and then down again for 10 times. This will help strengthen his calf muscles. Sing a song to make it fun! Let him place a hand on the wall for support if needed.
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Activity 2
Age Appropriate Speech, Language And Communication Development
Uses 'Have' To Ask Questions
 As a growing child, I begin to understand that language may take different forms. I also realize that there are words that allow others to better understand me. This doesn't necessarily mean that I will use correct grammar all the time! I usually develop the ability to use 'have' to ask questions when I am between 37 and 40 months old (3 year 1 months and 3 year 4 months). |
Steps
Feedback
Your child is beginning to understand and differentiate which grammatical forms to use in particular instances. Help by prompting your child where needed and model the use of 'have' in questions to him. This is also be a good time to expand his vocabulary as he will need new words to express the more complex things he wants to say. You may look at the suggested activities for more ideas.
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Provide models by using 'have' e.g. 'What have I got in my hands?', 'Have you got the red car?', 'Can daddy have some of your spaghetti?', 'Do you have your sweater in the bag?
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At the park, ask your child questions using ‘have’, e.g. “Does the bird have red wings?”, “Does that boy have a cap on his head?” etc. Make sure you help provide the right answers verbally to help him learn. E.g. “Yes, the boy has a cap on his head!”
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