Months 36+
Key points
- At 36 months, your toddler is officially of preschool age: socially, emotionally and developmentally, big changes are
happening as they become more independent and involved in group activities. - Meal prep and healthy snacks are important as your child becomes more exposed to outside food influences and busy
routines. - From increased vocabulary and physical coordination to emotional awareness, 36 months is a time of big leaps.
Your Toddler’s Turning Three – Say Hello to the Preschool Years
Three years old already? What a milestone! From around 36 months, your little one begins the exciting transition from toddler to preschooler and life starts to shift in new and wonderful ways.
Across Australia, preschool services go by different names depending on the state or territory. Whether it’s called kindergarten, kindy or an early learning centre, age three is when most children begin their preschool journey. It’s a time filled with new routines, growing independence and plenty of social adventure
New Routines, New Social Circles
As your child steps into the preschool phase, you might be heading back to work, settling into regular daycare drop-offs or preparing for both. Your child’s social calendar may start to fill up with birthday parties, playdates and new friendships – it’s all part of the preschooler experience! With more time spent outside the home, their world expands and so does their exposure to new environments, people and food choices. It’s an exciting time, but it can also make staying on top of their nutrition a little more challenging.
Supporting Your Preschooler’s Nutrition
Preschoolers are growing fast – physically, mentally and emotionally and their nutritional needs are evolving, and their diet is increasingly influenced by what’s offered at daycare, what friends are eating, and what’s convenient on busy days. That’s why many parents look for ways to support their child’s nutrition during this stage. Balanced meals, healthy snacks and milk drinks with added vitamins, minerals and prebiotics can help support gut health, immunity and overall development.
Turning three is more than just a birthday, it’s the beginning of a whole new chapter. As your little one transitions from toddlerhood to preschooler, their world opens up, and so do their needs. Staying on top of their nutrition now helps lay the foundation for healthy growth, learning and play in the years ahead
Toddler Nutrition at 36 Months
Feeding Your Preschooler: Prep Now, Thank Yourself Later
One of the easiest ways to stay on top of your little one’s nutrition? A bit of weekend prep. Seriously – your future self will thank you. Whether it’s chopping veggies, cooking in bulk or freezing leftovers, having meals ready to go makes the week smoother and helps ensure your toddler gets a good mix from all five food groups: fruits, vegetables, grains, dairy and protein.
At this age, kids are growing rapidly –both physically and mentally – so their bodies need energy-dense foods packed with essential nutrients. Iron (found in lean meats, eggs, and legumes) supports brain development and stamina. Calcium (from dairy or fortified plant-based options) strengthens bones and teeth. Colourful vegetables offer antioxidants and fibre, which help boost immunity and support digestion.
It’s also a great time to nurture gut health. Prebiotic-rich foods like bananas, oats, onions and legumes feed the beneficial bacteria in your child’s tummy. A healthy gut doesn’t just aid digestion – it’s linked to better nutrient absorption and even mood regulation. And hey, if your child ends up with a cupcake at a birthday party, don’t stress. Treats are part of life – and part of learning balance. Just keep offering fresh, wholesome foods at home and you’re doing an amazing job. You might notice a burst of energy after sugary snacks – that’s because simple carbs are absorbed quickly and can spike blood sugar. It’s a good reminder that slow-release energy from whole foods helps keep things steadier (and tantrums fewer!).
If you’re ever concerned that your preschooler isn’t getting everything they need from their diet, especially after being unwell or going through a fussy eating phase, Alula Gold Junior Milk Drink can help fill those nutritional gaps. It’s specially formulated with key nutrients including iron, calcium and vitamin D to support growing preschoolers, making it a helpful addition to a balanced diet when life (or appetite) gets a little unpredictable.
Healthy Snacks for Lunchboxes and Pick-Ups
Packing daycare lunches can be a daily challenge, especially when you notice your child hasn’t touched half of what you packed. Whether they were too busy playing or just not in the mood, it happens. But here’s a simple trick that helps: when you pick up your child, take a peek inside their lunchbox. If there’s anything left, encourage them to finish it on the way home or as an afternoon snack. It’s a great way to reduce waste and keep their energy up until dinner time.
Here are some snack ideas that are nutritious, easy to prep, and toddler-approved:
- Apple slices with peanut butter
- Cheese and wholegrain crackers
- Yoghurt with berries
- Boiled egg and veggie sticks
- Mini wholemeal sandwich
- Smoothie (try one with Alula Advance+ Junior Milk Drink)
- Corn on the cob
- Rice cakes with avocado
These snacks aren’t just tasty – they’re designed to support your child’s development. Toddlers need a balance of macronutrients (carbohydrates, protein and healthy fats) along with key micronutrients like iron, calcium and vitamin C. Iron fuels brain function and energy, calcium builds strong bones, and vitamin C boosts immunity and helps the absorption of iron. Including prebiotic-rich foods helps nourish the gut microbiome, which plays a vital role in digestion, nutrient absorption and overall health. Choosing snacks that combine these elements helps fuel their busy bodies and growing minds throughout the day.
Weight and Height of Your Child at 36 Months
At 36 months, preschooler boys weigh approximately 14.4 kg and are around 96.1 cm tall. Preschooler girls at this age weigh around 13.9 kg and stand at about 95.1 cm tall. These averages are based on data from the World Health Organization (WHO). If you’re unsure about your toddler’s growth, talk to your child’s health nurse or GP. [1]
Cognitive, Social and Physical Development
By 36 months, your toddler’s social, emotional and physical skills will have you thinking: They’re not a baby anymore!
They’ll be talking in sentences, most of which will be easily understood, and developing a sense of humour. They’re also working on
understanding that other people have feelings. You might notice that, as their awareness increases, they also become scared of things like the dark or monsters. [2] Reading storybooks can help your toddler learn more about other people as well as help them start to recognise their own feelings. Reading storybooks can help your toddler learn more about other people as well as help them recognise their own feelings.
Spending time with their peers (or other kids in general) helps them increase their social and cooperative skills, which you can also support by playing games with simple rules like Simon Says, Musical Chairs, Hide and Seek, or Duck, Duck, Goose. It’s a great time to bring back some of your favourite games from childhood.
Physically, your three-year-old might be an expert at riding their balance bike or they might enjoy running fast or kicking a ball. It’s likely they don’t have an ‘off’ switch and need help to recognise when they are tired and need to slow down and rest. Making time for drawing, colouring in, painting and stickers are all fun ways to bring out their creative side but also provide wind-down time and quiet play.
Toilet training is often well underway at this stage and again, your preschool might be positively influenced by their friends. Some children are confident using the toilet, while others are still getting there – both are completely normal. Keep encouraging progress and speak to your GP or health nurse if you have concerns.
And with their world expanding, you might notice an interest in TV or digital games. The Australian Government recommends limiting screen time to no more than one hour per day for children aged 2 to 5. [3] Choosing high-quality, age-appropriate programs and watching together can help your child learn and connect – but real-world play still does the most for your child’s development.
Don’t Forget!
It’s important to remember that every child develops at their own rate. Regular checkups with your health nurse or GP will be able to ensure your toddler is on track – but always get in touch with them sooner if you have any concerns. For extra resources, you can also head to Karitane or Tresillian online.
Read more
Find out about Nightmares & How to Help Children Deal with Them, Traffic and Driveway Safety for Kids plus more here.
[1] WHO[2] https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/child-development-7-three-to-four-years
[3] https://raisingchildren.net.au/toddlers/development/development-tracker-1-3-years/2-3-years
