SPEECH AND LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENTAL MILESTONES

Birth to 3 months

• The child makes cooing sounds
• The child has different cries for different needs
• The child smiles at you
• The child is startled due to loud sounds
• The child is soothed/calmed by a familiar voice

4 to 6 months

• The child babbles and makes different sounds
• The child makes sounds back to you when you talk
• The child enjoys games like peek-a-boo
• The child turn his/her eyes toward a sound source
• The child responds to music or toys that make noise

7 to12 months

• The child should wave hi/bye
• The child responds to his/her name
• The child lets you know what he/she wants using sounds, and actions like pointing
• The child begins to follow simple directions ( e.g., Where is your nose?)
• The child localizes sound by turning his/her head toward the sound
• The child pays attention when spoken to

By 12 to 18 months

• The child should use common words and start to put words together
• The child enjoys listening to storybooks
• The child points to body parts or pictures in a book when asked
• The child looks at your face when talking to you

By 18 to 24 months

• The child understands more words than he/she can say
• The child says two words frequently (e.g., More juice)
• The child asks simple questions (e.g., What’s that?)
• The child takes turns in a conversation

2 to 3 years

• The child should use sentences of three or more words most of the time
• The child understands different concepts (e.g., in-on; up-down)
• The child follows two-part directions (e.g., take the book and put it on the table)
• The child answers simple questions (e.g., Where is the car?)
• The child participates in short conversations

3 to 4 years

• The child should tell a short story or talk about daily activities
• The child talks in sentences with adult-like grammar
• The child generally speaks clearly so people understand him/her
• The child hears you when you call to them from another room
• The child listens to the television at the same volume as others
• The child answers a variety of questions

4 to 5 years

• The child should tell a short story or talk about daily activities
• The child talks in sentences with adult-like grammar
• The child generally speaks clearly so people understand him/her
• The child hears you when you call to them from another room
• The child listens to the television at the same volume as others
• The child answers a variety of questions