By the age of three, which skill should most children typically be able to perform?

By the age of three, most children typically exhibit the ability to jump, throw, and catch a ball, which are essential gross motor skills that develop during early childhood. At this age, children are actively refining their coordination and body control, which allows them to engage in these physical activities. Jumping involves using the legs to propel the body off the ground, while throwing and catching develop hand-eye coordination and timing.

In contrast, riding a bicycle is generally a skill that develops later, usually around ages four to six, as it requires more advanced balance and fine motor skills. Writing one's name requires a level of fine motor control and cognitive skill that typically doesn’t emerge until later, often around ages five to six when children are better able to understand letters and practice writing. Basic addition and subtraction are cognitive skills that involve abstract thinking, which usually starts developing in children around ages five to seven. Thus, the ability to jump, throw, and catch a ball reflects the right stage of physical development for a three-year-old.