Many parents are often overwhelmed or bombarded with information regarding milestones and development as soon as their child is born. Between social media, parent support groups, and advice from family and friends, you probably receive an array of conflicting information that can feel overwhelming at times, especially if you have concerns about your child's communication development. So, let's first chat about early language activities that you can easily implement into your daily routine to help facilitate language for your little one.
Research tells us that early language development is learned best through every-day intentional interactions with caregivers in a natural environment. Meaning-keep it simple! You don't need fancy toys or colorful flashcards to foster language development. Play with your child! Describe things you are doing and seeing in your everyday routines! Model simple play routines and use toys you already have in your home to facilitate imagination, interaction, and communication! Here are some additional ideas to support language development at home:
Self Talk-Talk out loud about what you're doing and what they're doing
Repetition-Repeat words over and over again throughout the day
Simplify- Use short phrases and sentences (i.e. instead of "tell me I want more cheese" prompt them to say "more cheese")
Give 2 choices-Do you want ___ or ____?
Sabotage-Set up play routine so they need your help (i.e. container is difficult to open)
Sign Language- Teach early sign language
Follow their Lead- Talk about their interests
Wait- Pause and give time to respond
If you continue to have concerns about your child's communication development, below are communication milestones that will help you determine if your child is near where they should be for their age.
Birth to One year Milestones (adapted from asha.org)
What should my child be able to do?
Hearing and Understanding/Talking
Birth–3 Months
Startles at loud sounds.
Quiets or smiles when you talk.
Seems to recognize your voice. Quiets if crying.
Birth–3 Months
Makes cooing sounds.
Cries change for different needs.
Smiles at people.
4–6 Months
Moves her eyes in the direction of sounds.
Responds to changes in your tone of voice.
Notices toys that make sounds.
Pays attention to music.
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
Turns and looks in the direction of sounds.
Looks when you point.
Turns when you call her name.
Understands words for common items and people—words like cup, truck, juice, and daddy.
Starts to respond to simple words and phrases, like “No,” “Come here,” and “Want more?”
Plays games with you, like peek-a-boo and pat-a-cake.
Listens to songs and stories for a short time.
7 Months–1 Year
Babbles long strings of sounds, like mimi upup 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.
One to Two Years (adapted from asha.org)
Hearing and Understanding
Points to a few body parts when you ask.
Follows 1-part directions, like "Roll the ball" or "Kiss the baby."
Responds to simple questions, like “Who’s that?” or “Where’s your shoe?”
Listens to simple stories, songs, and rhymes.
Points to pictures in a book when you name them.
Talking
Uses a lot of new words.
Uses p, b, m, h, and w in words.
Starts to name pictures in books.
Asks questions, like “What's that?”, “Who’s that?”, and “Where’s kitty?”
Puts 2 words together, like "more apple," "no bed," and "mommy book."
Two to Three Years (adapted from asha.org)
Hearing and Understanding
Understands opposites, like go–stop, big–little, and up–down.
Follows 2-part directions, like "Get the spoon and put it on the table."
Understands new words quickly.
Talking
Has a word for almost everything.
Talks about things that are not in the room.
Uses k, g, f, t, d, and n in words.
Uses words like in, on, and under.
Uses two- or three- words to talk about and ask for things.
People who know your child can understand him.
Asks “Why?”
Puts 3 words together to talk about things. May repeat some words and sounds.
Three to Four Years (adapted from asha.org)
Hearing and Understanding
Responds when you call from another room.
Understands words for some colors, like red, blue, and green.
Understands words for some shapes, like circle and square.
Understands words for family, like brother, grandmother, and aunt.
Talking
Answers simple who, what, and where questions.
Says rhyming words, like hat–cat.
Uses pronouns, like I, you, me, we, and they.
Uses some plural words, like toys, birds, and buses.
Most people understand what your child says.
Asks when and how questions.
Puts 4 words together. May make some mistakes, like “I goed to school.”
Talks about what happened during the day. Uses about 4 sentences at a time.
Four to Five Years (adapted from asha.org)
Hearing and Understanding
Understands words for order, like first, next, and last.
Understands words for time, like yesterday, today, and tomorrow.
Follows longer directions, like “Put your pajamas on, brush your teeth, and then pick out a book.”
Follows classroom directions, like “Draw a circle on your paper around something you eat.”
Hears and understands most of what she hears at home and in school.
Talking
Says all speech sounds in words. May make mistakes on sounds that are harder to say, like l, s, r, v, z, ch, sh, and th.
Responds to “What did you say?”
Talks without repeating sounds or words most of the time.
Names letters and numbers.
Uses sentences that have more than 1 action word, like jump, play, and get. May make some mistakes, like “Zach gots 2 video games, but I got one.”
Tells a short story.
Keeps a conversation going.
Talks in different ways, depending on the listener and place. Your child may use short sentences with younger children. He may talk louder outside than inside.
Reach out to a licensed speech language pathologist for a formal evaluation if you have continued concerns about your child's communication development. Early Intervention is key to earlier success in communication!