What to Expect the Toddler Years (149 page)

. . . will probably be able to:

use 2 adjectives

put on a T-shirt

broad jump

. . . may possibly be able to:

balance on each foot for 2 seconds

describe the use of 2 objects

. . . may even be able to:

copy a circle

prepare a bowl of cereal

dress without help

identify 4 colors

Preparing for the checkup.
Keep a list of concerns (about comfort habits, appetite, toileting, behavior, speech, or anything else) that have come up since the last visit. Be sure to bring the questions with you so you will be ready when the doctor asks, “Any concerns?” Also jot down new skills your toddler is displaying (jumping in place, pedaling a tricycle, speaking intelligibly, self-dressing, self-feeding, copying a circle) so you won’t be at a loss when you’re asked, “What’s your toddler been doing?” Bring along your child’s home health history record, too, so that height, weight, immunizations, and any other information gleaned from the visit can be recorded.

What the checkup will be like.
The procedure will vary a bit depending on your child’s doctor or the nurse-practitioner who conducts health supervision exams, but in most cases, the three-year visit will include:

Questions about your child’s development, behavior, eating habits, and health since the last visit. There may also be questions about how the family is doing in general, whether there have been any major stresses or changes, how siblings (if any) are interacting with the toddler, about how the parents are coping, about child-care arrangements (if any), or preschool. The doctor or nurse will also want to know whether you have any other questions or concerns and is likely to “interview” your child, too.

An assessment of growth (height, weight) since the last visit. These statistics may be plotted on growth charts (see pages 862 to 865) and the child’s weight for height evaluated and compared to previous measurements. (Toddlers grow in spurts. They may remain the same height for months and then suddenly seem to grow a full inch or more virtually overnight.)

An informal assessment, based on observation and interview, of physical and intellectual development. A check of hearing, vision, and speech. Eyes will be checked for strabismus (crossed, wandering, or wall eyes).