Parent Resources
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Growing Minds Pediatric Therapy · Charlotte, NC
Speech & Language Milestones by Age
What most children are doing by each age. Use this as a guide, not a test, because children learn at different speeds.
By 6 months
- Makes sounds like “oooo” and “aahh” and blows raspberries
- Laughs and takes turns making sounds with you
- Responds to sounds and to your voice
By 9 months
- Babbles with strings of sounds like “mamamama” and “bababa”
- Looks when you say their name
- Uses sounds and gestures to get your attention
By 12 months
- Waves “bye-bye” and points or reaches to show what they want
- Understands simple words like “no”
- May say one or two words, like “mama” or “dada”
By 18 months
- Says several single words
- Follows simple one-step directions, like “give me the ball”
- Points to show you something interesting
By 2 years
- Uses two words together, like “more milk”
- Points to things in a book or to body parts when asked
- Has a growing vocabulary of about 50 or more words
- Familiar people understand some of what they say
By 3 years
- Takes turns in a back-and-forth conversation
- Asks “who,” “what,” “where” or “why” questions
- Talks about what’s happening in a picture
- Others understand most of what they say
By 4 years
- Speaks in sentences of four or more words
- Tells you something that happened during their day
- Joins in with songs, stories and rhymes
- Answers simple questions like “What do you wear on your feet?”
By 5 years
- Tells a short story with at least two events
- Keeps a conversation going for several turns
- Answers questions about a book you just read
- Recognizes and uses simple rhymes
General information only, not a diagnosis. Every child develops at their own pace. Please talk with a professional if you have concerns.
Growing Minds Pediatric Therapy · Charlotte, NC
Simple ways to support your child’s communication and skills during the day. No flashcards or special equipment needed.
Talk about what you’re doing
- Narrate everyday routines: “I’m stirring the soup. Stir, stir, stir!”
- Describe what your child is doing and looking at
Add a little more
- When your child says “car,” you say “big red car!”
- Add just one or two words rather than a long sentence
Pause and wait
- Count to five in your head after you ask or comment
- Give your child time to answer, point or try a word
Read and sing every day
- Let your child choose the book and turn the pages
- Point to pictures and ask simple questions
- Repeat favorite songs and rhymes, because repetition builds language
Offer choices
- “Do you want the red cup or the blue cup?”
- Choices give your child a reason to talk and some control
Say it back the right way
- If your child says “wabbit,” you can say “Yes, a rabbit! Look at the rabbit.”
- Model the right sound instead of correcting or asking them to repeat
Keep it playful and short
- A few happy minutes beats a long, stressful practice
- Follow your child’s interests and stop while it’s still fun
Build strong hands
- Play with playdough, stickers, clothespins and building blocks
- Draw, color and do simple crafts together
If your child stutters
- Listen patiently and keep eye contact
- Try not to finish their sentences or say “slow down”
- Talk slowly yourself and let them know you’re listening
General information only, not a diagnosis. Every child develops at their own pace. Please talk with a professional if you have concerns.
Growing Minds Pediatric Therapy · Charlotte, NC
When to Seek an Evaluation
Signs that it may be time to get another set of eyes on your child’s development. Earlier support often makes things easier.
Babies and toddlers
- By about 12 months: not babbling, pointing, waving or using other gestures
- By about 18 months: not saying any words, or not understanding simple directions
- By 2 years: not putting two words together, or using very few words
- Any age: a loss of words or skills they used to have
Preschool and school age
- By 3 years: very hard for others to understand, or not talking in short sentences
- Difficulty following directions or answering questions
- Speech sounds that are still hard to understand as they get older
- Trouble playing or talking with other children
Stuttering
- Repeating sounds or words, or getting stuck, for several months
- Tension, struggle or avoiding talking
- Frustration or worry about speaking
Feeding
- Very few foods accepted, or refusing whole groups of foods
- Frequent gagging, coughing or choking at meals
- Mealtimes that are long and stressful
- Concerns about growth or weight (please also talk with your pediatrician)
Fine motor, sensory and emotions
- Struggles with buttons, utensils, scissors or handwriting
- Strong reactions to sounds, textures or busy places
- Frequent meltdowns or trouble with changes
Trust your gut
- If you’re worried, that’s reason enough to ask
- Consider a hearing check if your child isn’t responding to sounds or speaking as expected
- Reach out to us for a screening, and talk with your pediatrician
General information only, not a diagnosis. Every child develops at their own pace. Please talk with a professional if you have concerns.
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