Child Speech and Language Development

by Teresa McEntire | More from this Blogger

24 Jun 2006 09:48 AM

Many parents wonder is my child's speech developing normally? Does my child understand everything she should? Review the following general guidelines for speech and language development and find out if your child is on track.

6 months

• Babbling and using a number of different sounds like ma, da, ba, etc.
• Responds to his name
• Responds to human voices by turning his head
• Responds to the tone of the voice whether friendly or angry

12 months

• Uses one or more words with meaning (the same word is used to mean the same thing each time), may be a word fragment such as "ma" meaning mom
• Understands simple instructions
• Practices voice inflection - changes voice tone to imply meaning
• Is aware of the social value of speech

18 months

• Has a vocabulary of about 15 words usually made up of nouns
• Speaks often even though it is probably not understood
• Is able to follow simple commands such as get your shoes, put on your jacket, etc.

2 years

• Vocabulary of 50 or more words with the ability to name a number of common objects
• Is able to use at least two prepositions - positioning words like in, on, under
• Combines words into short sentences of at least 2 words
• About 50% of the child's speech should be understood by strangers
• Can use two pronouns like I, me, you, he correctly
• Responds to commands like show me your eyes, nose, etc.

2 ½ years

• Can speak about 200-300 words including names
• Uses two to three word sentences frequently
• Using fewer made-up words and replacing with real word (for example I used the word "boogy" for water and then replaced it with water)

3 years

• Uses pronouns I, you, me correctly
• Is using some plurals (fishes, balls, horses) and past tenses (went, had)
• Knows at least three prepositions such as in, on, under, over, behind
• Knows major parts of the body and can identify them when asked
• Uses three to five word sentences frequently
• Can speak between 300 and 500 words
• About 75% of speech is clearly understood by more than just a parent
• Understands and can respond to simple questions about her environment and activities
• Can count three objects
• Should be able to give his sex, name, and age
• Should be able to reason out simple questions such as, "What should you use to eat with? What should you do if you are tired? Where should you go to play on the swings?"
• Should not be expected to answer all questions even if she knows the answer

4 years

• Can name common objects and animals in books
• Knows one or more colors
• Demonstrates understanding of over and under
• Can differentiate between small and big, long and short, etc.
• Often plays make-believe
• Uses consonants and most vowels and diphthongs (oi, ou, ew)
• Often expresses himself with language
• Easily follows more complex commands
• Repeats words, phrases, and sounds
• About 90% of speech is clearly understood by others

Of course every child is unique and some develop faster and slower than others. But if your child is at least six months behind it is important to get a speech evaluation.

For more information read my blogs on other Speech and Language Topics:

Speech and Language Delays Causes of Speech and Language Delays Speech: Birth-12 months Speech: 1-2 years Speech: 2-3 years Speech: 3-4 years

Learn more about Teresa McEntire

Teresa McEntire grew up in Utah the oldest of four children. She currently lives in Kuna, Idaho, near Boise. She and her husband Gene have been married for almost ten years.

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