Speech and Language Development 

One Year

  • Follows simple directions with gestures 
  • Attempts to imitate simple words
  • Says at least one real word "mama, dada"
  • Points to pictures or objects
  • Attends to a book for one or two minutes

18 Months

  • Says 10 words
  • Follows simple commands without gestures
  • Makes animal sounds "moo" etc.
  • Starts pointing to simple body parts like "eyes"

Two Years 

  • Knows about 50 words
  • Begins to combine words such as "more milk"
  • Begins to use pronouns like "you" or "I" 
  • Answers simple yes/no questions 
  • Parents are able to understand child at least 50% of the time

Three Years

  • Parents can understand child at least 75% of the time
  • Begin making 3 word phrases "more milk please"
  • Groups objects into categories "Food, clothing" etc.
  • Describes the use of objects "fork is for eating" 
  • Follows 2-3 step directions

Four Years

  • Can understand a complex questions
  • Speech is understood by most people
  • Can answer "Why" questions
  • Can list objects in categories "Name all the foods you can" 
  • Makes phrases with 4 or 5 words in them "Can I go play?"