Warwickshire Children and Young People's WorkforceLanguage development
Language Development 0 - 5
Progress should be steady
Children learn at different rates. Some are fast language learners and some are slow, so it is best not to compare one child's language development with another's. The important thing to watch is that language development proceeds steadily, not whether it is fast or slow.
Approximate Ages & Stages:
| AGE | Understanding | What they might say or do | Sounds they might use |
| 0- 5months | Reacts to loud sounds, turns head towards a sound source, watches your face when you speak, | vocalizes pleasure and displeasure sounds (laughs, giggles, cries or fusses), makes noise when spoken to | |
| 6-11 months | Understands “no-no” | Babbles (says “ba-ba-ba” or “ma-ma-ma”)Tries to communicate by actions or gesturesTries to repeat your sounds | |
| 1 year | Obey commands with gesture e.g. 'give me the cup' By 12 months (or so!) most children have one or two words that they say with meaning and can comply with simple requests (e.g., 'Can I have your cup?') or commands (e.g., "Don't touch!") and understand little questions (e.g., 'Where's your tummy?'). | Knows 'Mamma' copies simple words | w m p b + vowels |
| 18 months | Identifies body parts and real objectsExpect first words between 12 and 18 months.There will probably be a "spurt" of language development before 2 years.Follows simple instructions accompanied by gestures | Using 6 - 20 wordsrecognisable extensive vocalisation & echoingPays attention to a book or toy for about 2 minutesAnswers simple questions non-verballyPoints to objects, pictures and family membersSays 2 or 3 words to label an object or person (pronunciation may not be clear)Tries to imitate simple words | n t d |
| 2 years | Obeys simple commands without gesture Identifies symbolic objects e.g. size of toyBy 2 to 3 years of age your child should be able to follow two-part instructions ('Get your teddy and put it on the chair') and string two or three words together to talk about and ask for things.Enjoys being read toUnderstands simple verbs like eat, sleepKnows some spatial concepts like in, onKnows some descriptive words like big, happy |
Using 50+ words (pronunciation may still be unclear) Sentences -Combining two words eg more milk Saying nouns, verbs, use pronouns eg mine, you, mePoints to simple body parts eg noseAsks for common foods by nameMake animal sounds eg mooUses question inflection when asking for thingsBegins to use plurals |
k m p g h |
| 3 Years | Responds to who, why, what, where? Identifies objects by name and functionIdentifies some colours |
May be non-fluent Large intelligible vocabulary Using simple phrases in conversation Using adjectives, prepositions and plurals |
f s l y |
| 4 Years | Ability to follow two part command Identifies three colours and numbersAnticipate hearing 4 to 5 word sentences by 4 years. Grammar should be correct most of the time by 4 years."Other people" will understand almost everything your child says by the time he or she is 4!.Has fun with language. Enjoys poems and recognizes language absurdities such as, "Is that an elephant on your head?" |
Vocabulary 1500+ words Speaks in complete sentences Gives name and addressAble to describe the use of objects such as "fork," "car," etc.Expresses ideas and feelings rather than just talking about the world around him or her.Uses verbs that end in "ing," such as "walking," "talking."Answers simple questions such as "What do you do when you are hungry?"Repeats sentences |
sh z v ch |
| 5 years | Follows three part commands Can listen and accurately retell a storyUnderstands spatial concepts such as "behind," "next to."Understands complex questions.Defines words.Lists items that belong in a category such as animals, vehicles, etc.Understands time sequences (what happened first, second, third, etc.).Understands rhyming.Sentences can be 8 or more words in length. |
Vocabulary 2000+ wordsSays about 200 - 300 different words. Asks meanings of abstract words Gives age and birthday Speech fully intelligibleSpeech is understandable but makes mistakes pronouncing long, difficult, or complex words such as "hippopotamus."Uses some irregular past tense verbs such as "ran," "fell."Describes how to do things such as painting a picture.Answers "why" questions.Engages in conversation.Uses compound and complex sentences.Describes objects.Uses imagination to create stories. |
th r |
Indicators for Language Delay
- No words at 21 months
- No word combinations at 27 months
- No ‘ing’ verb forms at 36 months
- No sentence linking at 42 months
- Immature pronouns at 48 months (her for him)
Pragmatic skills include:
1.knowing that you have to answer when a question has been asked; 2. being able to participate in a conversation by taking it in turns with the other speaker; 3. the ability to notice and respond to the non-verbal aspects of language;4. awareness that you have to introduce a topic of conversation in order for the listener to fully understand; 5. knowing which words or what sort of sentence-type to use when initiating a conversation or responding to something another person has said; 6. the ability to maintain a topic; 7. the ability to maintain appropriate eye contact, with not too much staring, and not too much looking away during a conversation; and, 8. the ability to distinguish how to talk and behave towards different communicative partners.
