It seems like yesterday that you brought your baby home.  Now, here he/she is three years later running around, doing things on his/her own and talking your ear off.  As children approach their third birthday, they become very social, quite expressive with their words and actions and very imaginative, making up stories in their heads. 

They are excited about exploring the world around them and discovering new things.  They bounce around the room and have developed strong motor skills.  At this age, children have a strong comprehension of what is going on around them.  This is a good time for a parent to teach their three-year-old good habits and proper behavior.

This article explains the developmental milestones that a three-year-old has reached and will give you insight as to how they think and why they do what they do.

When children reach their third year, they are able to speak many words and full sentences.  Their vocabulary reaches about three hundred words and their sentences are made up of complete thoughts expressed through several words.  At this age, your child no longer babbles or speaks baby talk.

They can now be understood not only by their parents but by strangers, too.  While they may still pronounce some words incorrectly, they are able to get their point across.  If you notice that your child stutters when she talks, do not be too concerned.

It is usually their way of getting their brain and mouth accustomed to forming words properly.  If the problem persists as they get older, then it is time to contact their pediatrician.

At the age of three, children are now able to relate to others socially.  They can sense when someone is happy or sad and react accordingly to the situation.  For instance, if they see that their mother is sad, they may offer up a hug.

Three-year-olds are very imaginative.  They will create their own worlds and games to play.  They like to play games that portray real life like playing doctor or playing house.  They may also create a play friend for themselves or become attached to a stuffed animal.  Do not be alarmed, this is normal.

It helps them establish their feelings.  Their energy level will also increase.  While they still need to take afternoon naps, children will fill their entire day running around the house or going up and down the stairs.