Speech & Language Milestone Chart

(LEARNING DISABILITIES ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA)

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