Final answer:
Imagination in a 3-year-old is at its peak, facilitating their ability to tell stories and create characters. They have a vocabulary that allows for this storytelling and they begin to understand others' perspectives through developing theory-of-mind. Hence, option (c) is correct.
Step-by-step explanation:
When planning how to respond to a 3-year-old child about telling stories (“tall tales”), it is important to understand that imagination in a 3-year-old is at its peak. Preschoolers at this age can speak in sentences and have a vocabulary of up to 1,000 words, which fuels their ability to create and tell stories. Their cognitive development supports pretend play and inventing elaborate characters, which is a key part of their learning and understanding of the world.
Moreover, 3-year-olds are entering a crucial phase of social and cognitive development marked by the emergence of theory-of-mind (ToM). This milestone signifies their growing awareness that individuals may hold different thoughts and beliefs, fostering empathy and understanding. Encouraging and appreciating their storytelling endeavors not only supports linguistic development but also nurtures their evolving social cognition, contributing to a holistic and enriching early childhood experience.