Three Year Olds

There’s a nasty rumor going around that three year olds are harder to handle than two year olds. I’ve even heard someone refer to age three as the “throat-slitting threes.” I think this is completely absurd. Now on my second three year old (who has a completely different personality than my first daughter), I can tell you, “have no fear, three year olds are easier than two year olds.”

1. They are less “baby” work. You don’t have to keep the house baby proofed. You don’t have to keep baby gates up. You don’t have to worry that they are going to put small things in their mouth. You can go to the bathroom and not worry that they are going to pull all the DVDs out of the tower.

2. They can do chores (and they actually like to do them!)

3. They can do things for themselves like dress themselves, buckle themselves in their car seat, brush their own hair, and feed themselves.

4. You can understand what they are saying.

5. They are potty-trained.

6. They can play board games and sit and watch movies.

7. You can reason with them.

8. They mostly know right from wrong. (Not saying they always choose right, but at least you know they have the ability to know the difference, and you can nip the “wrong” choosing in the butt).

9. It’s really exciting when they learn new things such as spelling their name and learning and writing their letters.

10. They are still cuddly, super cute, and say funny things.

Three year olds have the ability to do all the things listed above plus so much more. Of course it is not all rainbows and unicorns, but when you focus on the “bad” of any age, it’s going to seem like it’s the worst thing you have ever gone through because it’s the present thing you are dealing with. Instead, enjoy your three year old!