Watching your child’s communication skills blossom is one of the most gratifying parts of parenthood. From their first babble to their first word, these early skills help children express their needs and understand the world around them.
So how do you know if your child is reaching age-appropriate speech and language milestones?
In the United States, nearly 8% of children have a communication disorder that, when untreated, can impact their confidence, self-esteem, social and emotional well-being, and academic performance.
Children don’t come with a playbook, and knowing if your child is just a late-bloomer or has a more serious disorder isn’t always apparent. So let’s discuss the age-old questions parents always find themselves asking: What’s normal?
The Difference Between Speech and Language Disorders
First, it’s important to explain the difference between speech and language. There are important distinctions you should look for when assessing your child’s communication skills.
Speech is how we articulate our sounds and words. A speech delay is a common problem in developing children that’s characterized by trouble pronouncing certain sounds (like /r/ or /s/) and difficulty turning these sounds into legible words and sentences. Speech delays have a number of causes, the most prominent being oral-motor impairments that impact how children coordinate their tongue, lips, and jaw to correctly produce sounds.
Language refers to how we use and understand words. This can affect how a child uses words to form coherent words and sentences (expressive language delay) or how they interpret language to comprehend what others are saying (receptive language delay). Language delays can impact a child’s vocabulary, reading comprehension, sentence structure, conversational exchanges, and more.
Typical Communication Milestones
While every child is different, the stages of communication development are universal. Some children display completely normal progression of their communication abilities, and then suddenly plateau at 6 months, or a year, or three years. Others are slow to start and then quickly catch up.
Regardless, below are important milestones your child should meet within an expected age range. If you notice your child isn’t demonstrating these communication skills, it’s important to speak with your pediatrician or a speech-language pathologist.
0-3 Months
- Responsive to sounds
- Calms or quiets when they hear a familiar voice
- Begins experimenting with their voice by making cooing sounds
- Smiles
3-6 Months
- Is attentive to music
- Begins to mouth toys or respond to toy sounds
- Laughs and giggles
- Shifts their eyes and head toward noises
6-9 Months
- Reacts to fun games like “peekaboo”
- Starts babbling with replicated sounds, like “baba” or “mimi”
- Waves to signal “hi” or “bye”
9-12 Months
- Participates in joint attention (when two people focus on the same task or object simultaneously)
- Becomes responsive to what you say (e.g., “stop” or “give me that please”)
- Starts imitating simple non-speech sounds (e.g., “Ruff” for a dog or “Vroom” for a car)
- Imitates your words and even facial expressions
- Says their first word!
1-2 Years
- Regularly learns new words and expands their vocabulary
- Can string two words together like “more please” or “I want”
- Understands basic commands or directions
- Points to a picture when named in a book
2-3 Years
- Their vocabulary is accelerating fast — can now say around 400 words
- Can put words together in two- or three-word phrases
- Those familiar with the child can understand their speech
- Accurately pronounces the following sounds: /k/ /g/ /f/ /t/ /d/ and /n/
3-4 Years
- Talks regularly about their day, such as school or friends
- Speaks in sentences composed of at least four words
- Can answer basic “WH” questions
4-5 Years
- Uses descriptive language when speaking
- Can accurately pronounce the majority of sounds (may still struggle with /r/ /ch/ /sh/ /th/
- Understands most verbal and written communication
- Can start and maintain a conversation
- Begins to use adult grammar
- Follows commands and asks lots of question
The Importance of Early Speech Intervention
As parents or caregivers, it’s vitally important to be proactive about monitoring your child’s communication development.
If you notice your child is not reaching age-appropriate milestones, or is struggling to express their needs and wants, it can be tempting to take the “wait and see” approach. While this may be appropriate for some children, it also runs the risk of delaying necessary treatment.
The longer a child uses improper speech, or struggles with language use and comprehension, the harder it can be to correct. The earlier invention happens, the more progress a child will make toward their goals.
At the end of the day, no one knows your child better than you. If you notice your child struggling with communication, it’s generally recommended that you seek a comprehensive evaluation from a speech-language pathologist (SLP). SLPs are licensed and accredited communication professionals that can provide a clinical recommendation about if or when it’s appropriate to begin speech therapy.
Children don’t come with a blueprint or playbook – everyone is unique and progresses on their own timeline. What’s important is that you stay proactive in spotting any potential issues, speak regularly with your pediatrician, and seek out speech therapy if required.
Communication is one of life’s foundational skills. It impacts how your child expresses their needs, understands others, and engages in social settings, and has a large impact on their mental health and emotional well-being. The benefits of getting your child the help they need will last them a lifetime.
