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Birth to 5 months
Language development begins at birth as baby learns to coo, vocalizes pleasure and displeasure and makes noise when talked to. -
6 tp 11 months
The next step in communication includes understanding some sounds, babbling, imitating sounds and using actions or gestures. -
12 To 17 Months
A 12-17 months toddlers begin to answer simple questions nonverbally and label people or objects their vocabulary will grow to include four to six words. -
18 to 23 months
After 18 months children should see an increase in their vocabulary of up to 50 words, but pronunciation is often unclear. -
2 to 3 years
From 2 to 3 years language changes include an increase in vocabulary of 250 to 900 words, the use of three word sentences and the beginning of using pronouns such as "I" and "you". -
3 to 4 years
By the age of 3 years children begin to use most speech sounds, are able to identify colors, communicate ideas and feelings and be understood by strangers. -
4 to 5 years
Beween the ages of 4 and 5 children begin to understand spatial concepts such as "behind," "next to, vocabulary increases to 1500-2000 words, are able to sort items into categories, use compound and complex sentences and are able to use their imagination to create stories. -
6 years of age
At the age of 6 years old a child’s speech should be completely intelligible and socially useful, he should be able to tell a connected story after viewing a picture, and make connections between objects and lessons to every day life. -
7 to 8 years
Between the ages of 7-8 children should be able to tell time to a quarter of an hour, relate involved accounts of events that happened in the past, use all speech sounds including consonant blends, read with considerable ease, write simple compositions and can have a conversation at close to an adult level. -
8 to 18 years old
Language development is slowed and stabilizes from 8 to 18 years old, while vocabulary expands from about 2,600 to 60,000 words.
