Milestones
Facilitating Language Development In Young Children: Suggestion for Parents
Age 1 Milestones
- Recognizes names
- 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-meow
- 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 Age One & Two
- Understands “no”
- Uses 10-20 words such as “Daddy bye-bye”
- Waves goodbye 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
- 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 Age Two & Three
- 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
- Repeat new words over and over
- Helps your child listen and follow instructions by playing games: “pick up the ball,” “Touch Daddy’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 your 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 Age Three & Four
- Can tell a story
- Has a sentence length of 4-5 words
- Has a vocabulary of nearly 1000 words
- Names at lease one color
- Understands “yesterday, “summer,” “lunchtime,” “tonight,” “lttle-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
- Talk about how objects are the same or different
- Help your child to tell stores 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 Age Four & Five
- Has sentence length of 4-5 words
- Uses past tense correctly
- Has vocabulary of nearly 1500 words
- Points to colors red, blue, yellow, and green
- Understands “In the morning,” “next: “noontime”
- Can speak of imaginary conditions such as “I hope”
- Asks many questions, asks “who?” and why?”
- 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 interest
- 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 Age Five & Six
- 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
- Distinguishes left and right hand in herself
- Uses all types of sentences, for example “let’s go to the store after we eat.”
- Praise your child when they talk about their feelings, thoughts, hopes, and fears
- Comment on what you did or how you think our child feels
- Sing songs, rhymes with your child
- Continue to read longer stories
- Talk with your child as you would an adult
- Look at family photos and talk to him about your family history
- Listen to your when they talk to you
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Your child’s treatment plan is designed for steady progress to build and improve their everyday capabilities.
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