Watching a child grow from a tiny newborn to a curious toddler is an amazing experience, and teaching young children the many skills they need to learn is rewarding work. When a child becomes a toddler, he is ready to explore the world around him and is beginning to understand basic verbal, physical, and social skills. Three-year-olds have very different needs than toddlers and build on skills they’ve learned since birth.

There are some common traits that most three-year-olds share, although every child is different and develops at their own pace. If your child will soon be three years old, here are six things to know about your three-year-old.

Many children, especially boys, are not ready for potty training until they are three years old. Many parents expect their children to be potty trained by age three, but many children aren’t ready to begin the process until age three, and this is perfectly normal.

Three-year-olds are learning new words every day and usually speak in sentences of 3-5 words. Because they are learning so many new words, it is normal to stumble over words, but this is not stuttering and usually does not indicate a problem.

Some parents of young children are inclined to speak ill of their children using overly simplified words or “baby talk.” However, the best way to help your three-year-old develop proper speech is to talk to him using normal language with lots of descriptive words.

Most three-year-olds enjoy imitating people and animals, especially those they encounter on a daily basis. Three-year-olds will imitate what they see during play and begin to emulate people close to them.

At age three, children begin to develop the social skills necessary to play cooperatively with other children. Three-year-olds begin to share, take turns, and can tolerate delayed gratification most of the time.

Three-year-olds also begin to develop vivid imaginations and will often engage in imaginative play. They enjoy making up stories, pretending and acting out their favorite books, stories and TV shows.

Three-year-olds are still developing many important skills as they learn about the world around them. Teaching toddlers skills like potty training, cooperative play, and correct use of language becomes easier for three-year-olds who have developed the attention span and comprehension necessary for these tasks.