What happens at my three and a half year maternal and child health visit?
When your child turns three-and-a-half, it is time for their final key age and stage appointment with your maternal and child health nurse.
At this visit, your child's growth, health and development will be reviewed and your nurse will discuss their kindergarten enrolment. They will be given a vision screening to check their clarity of vision, using the Melbourne Initial Screening Test (MIST).
You will also be asked to answer My Health, Learning and Development – green book. It is under the Parents' Evaluation of Development Status (PEDS) section. Try to complete these questions before your visit.
This visit will focus on:
Remember, you and your nurse can talk about other issues or concerns if they arise.
Don't forget your 'green book'
When your child was born, you should have received a copy of My Health, Learning and Development – green book. This book belongs to you and your child and is full of information about early child development, and services and support.
Make sure you take your green book with you each time you see your nurse so you can jot down any issues, and record information on your child's growth and development.
If you don't have a green book, let your nurse know.
What is my child doing at this key age and stage?
At this key age and stage, your child is becoming more independent and adventurous. They love to be involved with everyday activities like cooking and shopping.
They might be:
- running, climbing stairs
- drawing, and cutting with scissors
- asking lots of questions
- playing with other children and learning how to share
- understanding their own and other people's feelings.
What to tell your nurse
Please tell the nurse if your child is:
- NOT talking clearly
- NOT able to talk in sentences
- NOT coming to you for affection or comfort
- NOT playing 'imaginary' games
- NOT playing with other children
- NOT drawing.
Activity ideas for this key age and stage
Try some of these ideas to help your child learn and develop:
- play games that involve sharing and taking turns
- let them help with the cooking, shopping or gardening
- read with them and ask questions about the story
- encourage them to draw and talk about their picture
- give them lots of outdoor playtime with plenty of running, tumbling and rolling.
Tip sheets for this visit
- “Try it - you’ll like it!”, vegetables and fruit for children (pdf), Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria.
- Healthy eating and play for kindergarten children 3-5 years (pdf), Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria.
- Is Your Child 3 - 4 Years Old? (pdf), Department of Education and Training, Victoria.
- Immunisation history statements for children, Better Health Channel, Department of Health and Human Services, Victoria.
- Preschoolers: independent adventurers 3.5 to 5 years (pdf), (available in multiple languages), Kidsafe Victoria.
Where to get help
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Content Partner
This page has been produced in consultation with and approved by:
Maternal and Child Health and Parenting
Last updated:
October 2019
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