Child Development (Ages 3–4) in Grand Rapids, Michigan

Between three and four years old, your child is moving from babyhood into early childhood. In Grand Rapids, many families see this as a time when preschool, playgroups, and community activities become a bigger part of daily life.

Children at this age are:

  • Learning how to get along with others
  • Beginning to manage their feelings (though tantrums can still happen)
  • Practicing social skills like sharing, taking turns, and being kind

They can usually use these new skills best when they feel safe, rested, and supported.

Social and Emotional Development (Ages 3–4)

Growing Friendships and Feelings

Typical characteristics for three-year-olds include:

  • Enjoying being with other children (playgroups, preschool, church groups, library story time)
  • Beginning to play with other children, not just alongside them
  • Understanding that other people are “real” and have their own thoughts and feelings
  • Still having fears of:
    • Loud or unexpected noises (snowplows, sirens, thunder over Lake Michigan)
    • The dark
    • Animals
    • “Monsters” or imaginary creatures

Three-year-olds are also developing a sense of humor. They often:

  • Laugh at silly words and situations
  • Repeat “nonsense” words just because they find them funny

Many children this age still need a comfort item, such as:

  • A pacifier
  • A favorite blanket
  • A special stuffed animal

They may also have strong, stereotyped ideas about what “boys” and “girls” should do or like. This is normal at this age and will gradually broaden as they grow and are exposed to a variety of role models.

Understanding Time and Reality

Your three- to four-year-old’s inner world is powerful. They may:

  • Have trouble separating “real” from “pretend”
  • Be deeply involved in imaginative play (pretend games, make-believe friends)

They are not “lying” on purpose when they mix up pretend and real. Their brains are still learning how to tell the difference.

By this age, many children:

  • Show some understanding of time (knowing that night follows day)
  • Realize that parents and caregivers can’t read their minds
  • Can usually draw a simple person by age four (often a “tadpole person” with a head and legs)

They still do not fully understand concepts like height, weight, and size, so comparisons (bigger/smaller, taller/shorter) can be confusing.

Physical Development in Grand Rapids’ Four-Season Climate

Activity Levels and Safety

In Grand Rapids, children this age enjoy both indoor and outdoor activities throughout the year—playing at local parks in summer, visiting indoor play spaces in winter, and exploring nature trails in fall and spring.

Typical characteristics include:

  • Loving physical activity (running, climbing, jumping)
  • Not being very good at pacing themselves
  • Getting tired and cranky if they don’t have enough quiet or rest time

Three-year-olds can usually:

  • Roll and bounce a ball
  • Attempt to catch, though catching is still difficult

By four years old, many children can:

  • Hold a pencil or crayon correctly
  • Begin to draw more recognizable shapes and figures

Fine Motor Skills

During this year, children typically learn to:

  • Cut with child-safe scissors (with close adult supervision)
  • Turn pages in books one at a time
  • Build more complex block structures

Because of Michigan’s cold winters, children often practice these fine motor skills indoors—coloring, cutting, drawing, and doing simple crafts.

Language Development (Ages 3–4)

By three, most children are speaking in simple sentences, but it’s common for them to:

  • Stutter or stumble over their words, especially when excited
  • Mix “baby talk” with clearer speech

Characteristics often include:

  • Some three-year-olds speaking very clearly
  • Others still using some baby talk
  • An average three-and-a-half-year-old knowing more than 1,000 words
  • Asking many questions beginning with:
    • “What…?”
    • “Who…?”
    • “Where…?”
    • “Why…?”

They can usually talk about:

  • “Yesterday” and “tomorrow”
  • Recent events, such as “We went to the park” or “We’re going to Grandma’s”

If you’re concerned about your child’s speech or language in Grand Rapids, you can speak with your pediatrician or ask about speech and language evaluations through local providers such as Spectrum Health, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health, or Mercy Health.

Separation, Child Care, and Preschool in Grand Rapids

How your child responds to separation—like being dropped off at child care or preschool—depends on both your personalities and past experiences.

Generally:

  • Child care, preschool, and kindergarten should feel like positive experiences for both you and your child after an adjustment period.
  • Some children adapt quickly; others need more time and reassurance.

If your child is very distressed for a long period, or if you’re not comfortable with how things are going:

  • Talk with the teachers or caregivers about your concerns.
  • Ask what strategies they use to support children who are anxious about separation.

In Grand Rapids, many families use:

  • Licensed child care centers
  • Home-based daycares
  • Preschool programs through local school districts and community organizations

The Kent County Health Department and Grand Rapids Public Health can provide information about quality child care, early childhood programs, and developmental screening resources.

Toileting and Toilet Training

Toileting varies widely at this age.

Some children:

  • Are managing toileting independently by the beginning of their third year

Others:

  • Are not yet toilet trained and may still be in diapers or pull-ups

It is also common for:

  • Children to have daytime accidents
  • Children to still be wet at night

If you have a new baby in the family, your three-year-old may:

  • Regress for a short time in their toileting skills
  • Ask for diapers again or have more accidents

Try not to panic or turn toileting into a power struggle. If there is ongoing tension between you and your child over toilet training:

  • Talk with your pediatrician
  • Ask for guidance from a child health nurse or family health provider

In Grand Rapids, you can discuss toilet training concerns with:

  • Your GP or pediatrician
  • Local family medicine clinics
  • Pediatric services at Spectrum Health, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health, or Mercy Health

How to Support Your Three- to Four-Year-Old’s Development

Encourage Physical Activity

Allow plenty of chances for active play:

  • Outdoor play in local parks and playgrounds when weather permits (e.g., at Millennium Park, Riverside Park, or neighborhood playgrounds)
  • Indoor activities during cold or snowy Michigan winters (indoor play gyms, children’s museums, or simple games at home)

Provide simple games with rules so your child can:

  • Learn the basics of cooperative play
  • Practice taking turns and following directions

Nurture Creativity and Learning

Offer a variety of activities, such as:

  • Music and songs
  • Picture and storybooks (the Grand Rapids Public Library is an excellent resource)
  • Plenty of opportunities for drawing and painting
  • Simple crafts and building toys

Children this age may also enjoy:

  • Short, age-appropriate television programs or streaming content
  • Educational videos in moderation

Try to:

  • Watch with your child when possible
  • Talk about what you’re watching together

Emotional Support

Above all, give your child:

  • Lots of love and affection
  • Time for fun and play
  • Approval and encouragement for their efforts, not just their successes

All children are different and develop at their own pace. If your child is not doing every single thing listed here, they may simply be focusing on other areas of learning and development.

When to Be Concerned About Development

In Grand Rapids, early identification of developmental delays can help your child get support sooner. Talk to a health professional if you notice any of the following signs:

  • Your child rarely interacts with other children or adults through play
  • Your child is excessively aggressive or very withdrawn with other children
  • Your child plays in very repetitive, “stereotyped” ways and does not vary their play
  • Your child seems much less physically capable than other children of the same age (running, climbing, using hands)
  • Your child is not toilet trained and reliably dry during the day by the end of this year, or:
    • Starts wetting again after having been dry during the day

Language concerns include:

  • Still speaking very unclearly or not using sentences at all
  • Being unable to follow simple verbal instructions (e.g., “Please get your shoes” or “Put the book on the table”)
  • Not talking during play or rarely using words to communicate needs and ideas

If your child’s development seems to go backward for more than a short, stressful period (such as a move, new baby, or illness), or if you feel your child is very different from other children, it’s important to seek advice.

Local Resources and Where to Get Help in Grand Rapids

If you have concerns about your three- to four-year-old’s development in Grand Rapids, you can contact:

  • Your GP or pediatrician – first point of contact for developmental concerns
  • Local health systems:
    • Spectrum Health (Corewell Health) pediatric services
    • Trinity Health Grand Rapids
    • Metro Health – University of Michigan Health
    • Mercy Health
  • Kent County Health Department – information on child development, immunizations, and early childhood programs
  • Grand Rapids Public Health and community clinics – for screenings, referrals, and parenting support
  • Early childhood programs and preschools – many offer developmental screenings and can share observations about your child’s progress

Early support can make a significant difference. If something doesn’t feel right to you, it is always appropriate to ask questions and request a developmental evaluation.