3 - 4 years old

Hand Skills

• Manipulates small objects in hand (eg. open screw-top bottle, turns key in toy cash register)
• Uses both hands together (eg. one hand holds paper while other hand draws)
• Cuts in a forwards direction with scissors (holds paper with one hand while opening and closing scissors with other hand)
• Does not press too lightly or too heavily when drawing
• Hand preference is emerging
• Can fold paper with a crease
• Draws a recognisable person (eg. face with legs and arms, no body)
• Holds pencil with fingers (not in a fist)
• Builds a 10-block tower with small blocks
• Can pick up 3 small objects and hold them with one hand (eg. marbles, small blocks)

Visual Perceptual

• Completes 9 piece jigsaw puzzles (with interlocking pieces)
• Matches shapes and objects (eg. circle, square, triangle, diamond, hexagon)
• Understands concepts such as in, on, under, beside, behind, next to etc.
• Is able to tell the front from back of clothes (with some help)
• Recognises name

Visual Motor

• Simple dot to dot drawings
• Copies simple shapes (circle, + and square)
• Stays between the lines when colouring in
• Colours one object on a page
• Beginning to imitate or copy letters of name when writing

Sensory Motor

• Concentrates if there is a lot of noise around
• Makes eye contact
• Goes up and down steps without hesitating
• Enjoys “messy” play (eg. sand, finger paint)
• Turns head to look at you (rather than turning whole body)
• Is aware of pain and temperature
• Enjoys playground (climbing, swinging, spinning, rocking, slippery slide)

Self-Care

• Washes hands (with wrist rotation)
• Goes to toilet by self (help with wiping)
• Undresses by themselves, including buttons
• Dresses by themselves with simple clothes (short, t-shirt and simple dress)

Play

• Enjoys role play (eg. pretends to be Mum, Dad, Super Hero, shop keeper etc.)
• Acts out a simple story in play with a number of steps
• Uses a variety of objects in play (eg. sand, rocks, plastic blocks, pop-sticks, cardboard boxes)
• Uses imaginary (“pretend”) objects in play
• Play themes are beyond a child’s own experience (eg. being a fire firefighter, sailing a ship, flying a helicopter, being a doctor)

Gross Motor Skills

• Walks with alternating arm movements
• Walks upstairs alternating feet (one foot on each step)
• Walks downstairs with 2 feet per step
• Stands on 1 foot for 3 seconds
• Throws tennis ball overarm
• Catches basketball with arms away from body (arms may be stiff)
• Walks tiptoe for 6 steps

Social Skills

• Plays beside peers with some organisation
• Follows directions and obeys authority (eg. parent or teacher)
• Look at other person when speaking
• Knows what possessions belong to them
• Stays with the group (doesn’t wander off)
• Says ‘thank you’, ‘hello’ and ‘goodbye’ where appropriate