At 18 Months
The development of language in young children is a miraculous event with each stage building on the previous one. This information can help you to set reasonable expectations for your child and allow you to enjoy your child’s path to communication.
AT 18 MONTHS,
CHILDREN:
- understand single words.
- point to objects they recognize or desire.
- follow simple directions and routines.
- answer simple “yes/no” questions, “Do you want___________?”
- begin to use single words in succession.
- enjoy interacting with others and will imitate a variety of sounds, gestures
and words.
AT 2 YEARS, CHILDREN:
- understand over 500 words but may use only 200.
- combine words.
- answer simple “who”, “what”, “where”
questions.
- name common objects.
- begin to use the prepositions, “in” and “on”.
- begin to use pronouns “I, me, you”.
- follow simple 2 step directions.
- ask questions using intonation.
- express negation using “no” and “not”
- use a variety of consonant sounds along with vowels.
- enjoy listening to stories.
AT 3 YEARS, CHILDREN:
- have an expansive vocabulary including adjectives, “big/little”
and prepositions, “over/under”.
- understand and answer simple “wh” questions.
- follow 3 term instructions.
- use sentences of at least 3 words in length.
- can talk about objects or events not actually present.
- ask questions using “wh” words, “what?” etc. . .
- use all pronouns discriminately.
- express negation using contractions, “can’t, don’t.”
- use plurals, “shoes.”
- use consonants in the beginning and end of words.
- are understood by family members.
AT 4 YEARS, CHILDREN:
- use over 800 words to form complex sentences.
- use sentences that begin to resemble adults in terms of grammar.
- answer “how”, “why” and “what if” questions.
- can retell stories in the right order.
- carry on long, detailed conversations.
- can talk about past and future events using verb tenses.
- form negatives and questions using auxiliaries “Are you ready?, We
aren’t going.”
- can be understood by people outside of the immediate family.
