Behind the Common Sense Media ratings system

What's age appropriate for a 3-year-old?

The way our kids consume and create media profoundly affects their social, emotional, and physical development. That's why, when we make assessments about age appropriateness, we rely on developmental criteria from some of the nation's leading authorities to determine what content and activities are best suited for each age and stage. Below you will find the developmental guidelines we use in establishing our age ratings and recommendations. But even as we rely on experts, we know that all kids grow and mature differently. Our age-based reviews and ratings are a guide -- but ultimately, you're still the expert when it comes to your kids.

What's going on at age 3

Cognitive development: At this age, kids can communicate their needs, ideas, and questions with words. They have slightly longer attention spans and continue to learn best by doing -- which means they need a variety of activities (indoor and outdoor, active and quiet) to exercise all five senses. Three-year-olds like to hear stories they know over and over again, with consistent wording each time. They're rapidly building vocabulary and basic numeric and verbal literacy skills and will memorize music and stories rapidly.

Social and emotional development: At 3, kids enjoy imitating and begin to play with other children and share. But they also still have extreme but short-lived emotions and often need to be encouraged to express their feelings with words.

Physical development: Three-year-olds are much steadier and more mobile and less awkward in their movements. That means they can handle small objects, they tend to like puzzles, they can build towers of six to nine blocks, and they can use utensils well.

Technological/digital savviness: Kids this age can often start using a mouse and keyboard, but their hand-eye coordination is still developing, so they have limited control over the kind of fine movements that affect gaming and apps. But they understand how to point, click, and navigate via images, and they have sufficient finger coordination to use most apps designed for preschoolers.

What's age appropriate at age 3

	Educational value: The most appropriate media for this age helps kids build an understanding of basic vocabulary and numbers. It's best to select media that teaches simple message or that models social lessons like how to share and be a good friend.
	Positive messages: Since kids this age soak up everything they see/hear, the media they consume should have pro-social messaging.
	Positive role models: Adult characters should be dependable. Avoid stereotyping by staying away from media that portrays characters in gender- or race-stereotyped roles. Give examples of people breaking stereotypes (especially gender, as kids this age are forming ideas of what it means to be a boy or girl).
	Violence and scariness: By age 3, violence may start to be harder to ignore, especially if kids watch cartoons. Avoid shows and movies in which characters use violence to resolve conflict -- but if it comes up, talk about alternative ways that characters could have solved the problem. Different things scare different children; it's not always possible to predict what will frighten a particular kid. Avoid scary programming (including emotional intensity, separations of parents and kids, and parents and kids in peril). When kids do see something that scares them, the best comfort is reassurance that everyone is safe (plus a hug and a favorite toy).
	Sexy stuff: None.
	Language: No profanity is appropriate. Children this age don't yet understand "bad" or hurtful words, but they learn the words they hear spoken around them at an amazing rate -- which means they shouldn't be exposed to language they shouldn't repeat.
	Consumerism/commercialism: Kids this age are too young to understand the "persuasive intent" of advertising, so commercial programming -- including product tie-ins -- should be avoided. Brand extensions have become a fact of life for young children, so preschoolers will gravitate toward everything from cereal to stuffed animals that have characters they recognize from television or movies.
	Drinking, drugs, and smoking: None.
	Online privacy and safety: All online activities for kids this age should be supervised by parents; absolutely no personal information should be shared anywhere, and all interactions should be pre-set (i.e. no open chatting).