Preschoolers (3-5 years)

Find out about how children's communication skills usually develop by the age of 3. Check some activity suggestions to encourage communication from 3 years. Use the language that you are most familiar and comfortable with.

Hearing is a critical part of a child's communication development so it's important to identify any loss as early as possible.

Rewards can really motivate a child to improve their behaviour. They work best if given soon after the behaviour, not after a few days.

Tamariki (children) with restless legs have an uncomfortable feeling in their legs when trying to fall asleep. If your child has restless legs, find out how you can manage this.

Night terrors are scary to watch but usually harmless to tamariki (children). The most important thing to do when your child has a night terror is to keep your child safe.

If your child is anxious about going to sleep or you think it may be hard to keep them in their bedroom, then using the 'checking method' may be helpful.

If your child is anxious about going to sleep, then 'camping out' may be helpful. You put a chair or camp bed next to your child's bed and gradually remove the chair as your child begins to fall asleep alone.

For tamariki (children) who have a difficult time staying in their bedroom or cry out, making a bedtime pass for your child may be valuable.

Putting tamariki (children) to bed when they are not tired increases the chances of bedtime struggles. Therefore, for some tamariki it is best to start by setting the bedtime at the time they usually fall asleep and gradually making the bedtime earlier.

Vitamin D helps our bodies use calcium to build and maintain strong bones and teeth.

Pēpi (babies) and tamariki (children) can choke on food at any age but those under 5 are at higher risk, and especially tamariki and pēpi under 3. Watch a video about ways to reduce the choking risk.

Your child's hearing and vision will be discussed with you at various Well Child checks before your child turns 4 years of age. If your child does have a hearing or vision problem, finding it early is good for their learning and development.

Show your child that you are interested in what they say, not how they say it. Help your child learn how to say tricky sounds by repeating them correctly as naturally as possible.