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From the Desk of Bill Cirone...
January 28, 2000
Milestones to Look for in Language
Parents always look forward to hearing their children’s first words. It’s an exciting moment when it becomes clear that a child is making a sound and understands that that sound has significance. There are other milestones to look forward to in terms of language development from that point further.
Every child is different, but here are some general guidelines that can help parents keep track as their child’s language development gets more and more sophisticated.
By 11 months of age, a baby is probably using one word and understanding several more. To encourage children at this age to keep talking, it’s good to praise them and repeat words they know.
By 15 months a child may be connecting sounds and words together. It is also common for children at this age to repeat phrases their parents use often, such as "Uh Oh."
By 18 months a child’s vocabulary has usually grown to about 10 words. This is a good time to have a child practice new words by pointing out objects and letting the child name them.
From 18 months through two years, a child commonly knows about 30 words. Children at this age also are beginning to express feelings by putting simple words together, such as "Want Daddy."
During the months between ages two and three, children begin to form more complex statements like "You get book and read to me." The vocabulary can blossom up to 200 or 300 words.
By three, a child is beginning to understand single words that describe feelings, like "thirsty." It’s common that children of three can say their full name.
By four years of age, many children can hold a conversation. They can also make up silly words.
By five, a child uses questions to learn more about the world. This is a good time to start playing word games in order to reinforce and support continued language development.
It’s very important to remember that each child is different, and these are merely general guidelines. Children develop at different speeds. Many who start off slowly develop a real head of steam once things begin to click. So be sure to relax and enjoy your children at every age of development.
© Santa Barbara County Education Office
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