Early Childhood Developmental Language Milestones
0-3 months
In the first month, vocalization involves crying to signal hunger and discomfort. In the next two months, babies often begin to laugh and make sounds like "goo" in the back of their throats. During this time babies:
4-6 months
In this range, babies begin to use vocal play as they gain more control over their oral structures. They put vowels and consonants together and make true speech sounds. They also start to make non-speech sounds including raspberries, and yelling. They practice making sounds when playing alone. During this time babies:
7-12 months
Babbling really takes off in this time period. At first, babies engage in "Reduplicated babbling" which is the repetition of the same syllable several times, such as “ba ba ba ba”. Later, they begin "variegated babbling", whcih consists of a mix of syllables, e.g. 'ka-da-bu-ba -ba-mi-mi". Babies also attempt to imitate adult sounds.When they babble, babies are practicing sounds and oral motor skills. During this time babies:
13-18 months
During this period, babies start regularly using first words as well as jargon ( strings of different syllable combinations that have the sound and intonation of real words). Consonants produced most often at this stage are b, m, d, and n. At this stage, babies:
18-24 months
In this age range, little ones are learning words very quickly. Children should be using most of these sounds: b, m, p, n, t, d, k, g, f, ng, and s. At this stage, children:
2-3 years
Language and speech skills continue to develop at a fast pace. In their speech they may simplify the adult production of words by substituting easier sounds or omitting sounds (for example, spaghetti becomes "sketti"). By the age of three, a child's speech should be understood by most people, including unfamiliar listeners. At this stage, Children:
3-4 years
During these years, children are learning the intricate rules of our language. They begin to string more and more words together to form longer and more complex sentences, begin using and answering more difficult questions, and are able to follow increasingly more difficult directions. At this stage, children:
For additional information to help determine if your child may need a little help, visit the ASHA guidelines.
In the first month, vocalization involves crying to signal hunger and discomfort. In the next two months, babies often begin to laugh and make sounds like "goo" in the back of their throats. During this time babies:
- Startle in response to sudden, loud noise
- Has different cries for different needs
- Increases or decreases sucking behavior in response to sound
- Use vocalizations to indicate pleasure and displeasure (laughing, giggling, crying)
- Smiles when sees you or when spoken to
4-6 months
In this range, babies begin to use vocal play as they gain more control over their oral structures. They put vowels and consonants together and make true speech sounds. They also start to make non-speech sounds including raspberries, and yelling. They practice making sounds when playing alone. During this time babies:
- React to loud sounds
- Turn head toward a sound
- Watch your face when you speak
- Make noise when talked to
- Smile and laugh in response to your smiles and laughs
- Babbling sounds more speech-like with many different sounds, including p, b and m
- Makes gurgling sounds when left alone and when playing
7-12 months
Babbling really takes off in this time period. At first, babies engage in "Reduplicated babbling" which is the repetition of the same syllable several times, such as “ba ba ba ba”. Later, they begin "variegated babbling", whcih consists of a mix of syllables, e.g. 'ka-da-bu-ba -ba-mi-mi". Babies also attempt to imitate adult sounds.When they babble, babies are practicing sounds and oral motor skills. During this time babies:
- Respond to their name
- Understand when you say “No”
- Use gestures to communicate – such as stretching up to request being picked up
- Take turns making sounds with caregiver
- Babble and repeats sounds
- Imitate speech sounds
- Use 1-5 words by 12 months
- Understands words used to lable everyday items such as "book" or "milk"
- Begins to respond to requests (e.g. "Come here" or "Want more?")
- Uses speech and sounds to get and keep attention
13-18 months
During this period, babies start regularly using first words as well as jargon ( strings of different syllable combinations that have the sound and intonation of real words). Consonants produced most often at this stage are b, m, d, and n. At this stage, babies:
- Get adult attention by using sounds, pointing and gestures
- Combine lots of sounds as though he’s talking
- Point to body parts, familiar people and objects, when asked
- Use at least 10-20 words consistently
- Understand and respond with words or gestures to simple questions – e.g. “Where’s daddy”, “What’s that?”
- Follow simple commands
- Pretend with toys – e.g. pretends to talk on a toy phone, gives teddy a drink, drives toy car
- Make different consonant sounds – p,b,m,n,d,g,w,h
- Enjoy being read to
18-24 months
In this age range, little ones are learning words very quickly. Children should be using most of these sounds: b, m, p, n, t, d, k, g, f, ng, and s. At this stage, children:
- Follow 2-step directions – e.g. go find your teddy and show it to Grandma
- Use two pronouns – e.g. “you”, “me”, “mine”
- Use two prepositions (i.e., on, in)
- Puts two words together ("more cookie," "no juice," "mommy book").
- Combine 2 words in short phrases – "car go"
- Have speech that is easily understood at least half the time
- Use words and sounds easily and effortlessly
- Say more words every month
- Begin to use simple, short questions i.e., "What's that?", "Where's mama?")
- Has an expressive vocabulary of at least 50 words
2-3 years
Language and speech skills continue to develop at a fast pace. In their speech they may simplify the adult production of words by substituting easier sounds or omitting sounds (for example, spaghetti becomes "sketti"). By the age of three, a child's speech should be understood by most people, including unfamiliar listeners. At this stage, Children:
- Follow two requests ("Get your shoes and put them on")
- Have a word for almost everything
- Combine 2-4 words in phrases to talk about and ask for things
- Uses k, g, f, t, d, and n sounds
- Have speech that is understood by familiar listeners most of the time
- Often request objects by naming them
3-4 years
During these years, children are learning the intricate rules of our language. They begin to string more and more words together to form longer and more complex sentences, begin using and answering more difficult questions, and are able to follow increasingly more difficult directions. At this stage, children:
- Begin to master many of the grammatical conventions that we use on an everyday basis (i.e., plural -s, -ing words, different tenses, possessive -'s)
- Use mostly sentences that have 4 or more words
- Answer simple "who?", "what?", "where?", and "why?" questions
- Are able to reason out such questions as "what must you do when you are sleepy, hungry, cool, or thirsty?
For additional information to help determine if your child may need a little help, visit the ASHA guidelines.
