Birth to 3 Months:

Most infants will:



• Respond to speech by looking at the speaker.
• Differentiate the voice of a parent from other voices.
• React to changes in a speaker's tone, pitch, volume, and intonation.
• Distinguish their home language from other languages.
• Communicate with bodily movements, crying, babbling, and laughing.
• Attempt to imitate vowel sounds.

3 to 6 Months:

Babies love to "converse":



• Exchange sounds, facial expressions, or gestures with a parent or caregiver.
• Listen to conversations.
• Repeat some vowel and consonant sounds.

6 to 9 Months:

Vocalizations increase:

• Begin repetitive babbling (deaf children may also babble with their hands).
• Associate gestures with simple words and phrases like "hi" and "bye-bye."
• Use vocal and non-vocal communication to express interest and influence others.

9 to 12 Months:

Children are preparing to talk:

• Understand the names of familiar people and objects.
• Show understanding through body language (pointing) and facial expressions.
• Say a few words.
• Respond to simple commands, such as stopping when told "no."

1 to 2 Years:

Language development accelerates:

• Understand many words, simple phrases, and directions ("Drink your milk").
• Follow two-step directions.
• Respond correctly to simple "where?" questions.
• Say a few clear words and several dozen words that family members understand.
• Understand basic prepositions like "on," "in," or "under."
• Use words like "more" and "all gone."
• Learn about nine new words a day from 18 months.
• Use "my" or "mine" to indicate possession; begin using "me," "I," and "you."

2 to 3 Years:

Rapid development in understanding and using language:

• Combine familiar words into phrases.
• Start using adverbs and adjectives.
• Point to common objects when named.
• Name objects based on descriptions.
• Respond to "what?" and "where?" questions.
• Enjoy listening to stories.
• Talk about simple events from their day.

3 to 4 Years:

Language becomes more complex:

• Understood by familiar and unfamiliar listeners despite some sound errors.
• Use and understand sentences.
• Use more complex grammar, such as plurals and past tense.
• Understand time concepts in sentences (e.g., "Grandma is coming tomorrow").
• Understand size comparisons like big and small.
• Follow 2-4 step related directions.
• Sing a song and repeat at least one nursery rhyme.

4 to 5 Years:

Use language to converse and share information:

• Retell a story (may confuse facts).
• Combine thoughts into one sentence.
• Ask "when?", "how?", and "why?" questions.
• Use words like "can," "will," "should," and "might."
• Properly use "because" and "so."
• Follow three unrelated commands.
• Understand comparatives like loud, louder, loudest.
• Listen to long stories (may misinterpret facts).
• Understand sequencing of events when clearly explained (e.g., "First we wash our hands, then we sit at the table, and finally we eat our lunch").