Age of Mastery
Research has proven that children develop at their own rate. As a parent, it is important for you to know and understand typical developmental milestones of children. The course of children’s development is mapped using a chart of developmental milestones.
These milestones are behaviors that emerge over time, forming the building blocks for growth and continued learning.
Find your child’s age below and learn about her speech, language, and hearing development. *Also see the speech sound development chart below.
Birth to one Year
Milestones
Birth–3 Months
• Makes cooing sounds.
• Cries change for different needs.
• Smiles at people.
4–6 Months
• Coos and babbles when playing alone or with you.
• Makes speech-like babbling sounds, like pa, ba, and mi.
• Giggles and laughs.
• Makes sounds when happy or upset.
7 Months–1 Year
• Babbles long strings of sounds, like mimi, up-up, babababa.
• Uses sounds and gestures to get and keep attention.
• Points to objects and shows them to others.
• Uses gestures like waving bye, reaching for “up,” and shaking his head no.
• Imitates different speech sounds. • Says 1 or 2 words, like hi, dog, dada, mama, or uh-oh. This will happen around his first birthday, but sounds may not be clear.
Actions to take and Activities to encourage your child’s language
• Check if your child can hear. See if she turns to noises or looks at you when you talk. Pay attention to ear infections, and see your doctor.
• Respond to your child. Look at him when he makes noises. Talk to him. Imitate the sounds he makes.
• Laugh when she does. Imitate the faces she makes.
• Teach your baby to imitate actions, like peek-a-boo, clapping, blowing kisses, and waving bye-bye. This teaches him how to take turns. We take turns when we talk.
• Talk about what you do during the day. Say things like “Mommy is washing your hair”; “You are eating peas”; and “Oh, these peas are good!”
• Talk about where you go, what you do there, and who and what you see. Say things like, “We are going to Grandma’s house. Grandma has a dog. You can pet the dog.”
• Teach animal sounds, like “A cow says ‘moo.’”
• Read to your child every day.
• Talk to your child in the language you are most comfortable using.
By age one
Milestones
• Recognizes name
• Says 2-3 words besides “mama” and “dada”
• Imitates familiar words
• Understands simple instructions
• Recognizes words as symbols for objects: Car – points to garage, cat – meows
Activities to encourage your child’s language
• Respond to your child’s coos, gurgles, and babbling
• Talk to your child as you care for him or her throughout the day
• Read colorful books to your child every day
• Tell nursery rhymes and sing songs
• Teach your child the names of everyday items and familiar people
• Take your child with you to new places and situations
• Play simple games with your child such as “peek-a-boo” and “pat-a-cake”
Between one and two
Milestones
• Understands “no”
• Uses 10 to 20 words, including names
• Combines two words such as “daddy bye-bye”
• Waves good-bye and plays pat-a-cake
• Makes the “sounds” of familiar animals
• Gives a toy when asked
• Uses words such as “more” to make wants known
• Points to his or her toes, eyes, and nose
• Brings object from another room when asked
Activities to encourage your child’s language
• Reward and encourage early efforts at saying new words
• Talk to your baby about everything you’re doing while you’re with him
• Talk simply, clearly, and slowly to your child
• Talk about new situations before you go, while you’re there, and again when you are home
• Look at your child when he or she talks to you
• Describe what your child is doing, feeling, hearing
• Let your child listen to children’s records and tapes
• Praise your child’s efforts to communicate
Between two and three
Milestones
• Identifies body parts|
• Carries on ‘conversation’ with self and dolls
• Asks “what’s that?” And “where’s my?”
• Uses 2-word negative phrases such as “no want”.
• Forms some plurals by adding “s”; book, books
• Has a 450 word vocabulary
• Gives first name, holds up fingers to tell age
• Combines nouns and verbs “mommy go”
• Understands simple time concepts: “last night”, “tomorrow”
• Refers to self as “me” rather than by name
• Tries to get adult attention: “watch me”
• Likes to hear same story repeated
• May say “no” when means “yes”
• Talks to other children as well as adults
• Solves problems by talking instead of hitting or crying
• Answers “where” questions
• Names common pictures and things
• Uses short sentences like “me want more” or “me want cookie”
• Matches 3-4 colors, knows big and little
Activities to encourage your child’s language
• Repeat new words over and over
• Help your child listen and follow instructions by playing games: “pick up the ball,” “Touch Daddy’s s nose”
• Take your child on trips and talk about what you see before, during and after the trip
• Let your child tell you answers to simple questions
• Read books every day, perhaps as part of the bedtime routine
• Listen attentively as your child talks to you
• Describe what you are doing, planning, thinking
• Have the child deliver simple messages for you (Mommy needs you, Daddy )
• Carry on conversations with the child, preferably when the two of you have some quiet time together
• Ask questions to get your child to think and talk
• Show the child you understand what he or she says by answering, smiling, and nodding your head
• Expand what the; child says. If he or she says, “more juice,” you say, “Adam wants more juice.”
Between three and four
Milestones
• Can tell a story
• Has a sentence length of 4-5 words
• Has a vocabulary of nearly 1000 words
• Names at least one color
• Understands “yesterday,” “summer”, “lunchtime”, “tonight”, “little-big”
• Begins to obey requests like “put the block under the chair”
• Knows his or her last name, name of street on which he/she lives and several nursery rhymes
Activities to encourage your child’s language
• Talk about how objects are the same or different
• Help your child to tell stories using books and pictures
• Let your child play with other children
• Read longer stories to your child
• Pay attention to your child when he’s talking
• Talk about places you’ve been or will be going
Between four and five
Milestones
• Has sentence length of 4-5 words
• Uses past tense correctly
• Has a vocabulary of nearly 1500 words
• Points to colors red, blue, yellow and green
• Identifies triangles, circles and squares
• Understands “In the morning” , “next”, “noontime”
• Can speak of imaginary conditions such as “I hope”
• Asks many questions, asks “who?” And “why?”
Activities to encourage your child’s language
• Help your child sort objects and things (ex. things you eat, animals. . )
• Teach your child how to use the telephone
• Let your child help you plan activities such as what you will make for Thanksgiving dinner
• Continue talking with him about his interests
• Read longer stories to him
• Let her tell and make up stories for you
• Show your pleasure when she comes to talk with you
Between five and six
Milestones
• Has a sentence length of 5-6 words
• Has a vocabulary of around 2000 words
• Defines objects by their use (you eat with a fork) and can tell what objects are made of
• Knows spatial relations like “on top”, “behind”, “far” and “near”
• Knows her address
• Identifies a penny, nickel and dime
• Knows common opposites like “big/little”
• Understands “same” and “different”
• Counts ten objects
• Asks questions for information
• Distinguished left and right hand in herself
• Uses all types of sentences, for example “let’s go to the store after we eat”
Activities to encourage your child’s language
• Praise your child when she talks about her feelings, thoughts, hopes and fears
• Comment on what you did or how you think your child feels
• Sing songs, rhymes with your child
• Continue to read longer stories
• Talk with him as you would an adult
• Look at family photos and talk to him about your family history
• Listen to her when she talks to you
Speech, language, or hearing problems can lead to trouble making friends and doing well in school. Give your child success—get help early. Review the skills demonstrated by the child up to their current age. If you notice skills that have not been met below their current age contact Elevated Speech today.
