Language means using words and sentences to tell needs, wants or ideas. Speech means making the sounds that make words. Learning to talk and communicate is a very important skill that children develop. Parents are usually the first to notice when their child has a problem with speech or language. If you think that your child is having a speech/language problem, contact your child’s doctor to request a referral to CHKD Therapy Services for a speech and language evaluation.
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Age
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Understanding Sounds/Words (Receptive Language)
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Making Sounds/Words (Expressive Language) |
What You Can Do To Help Language Development |
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12-18 months
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- Follows one-step commands like “no”, “come here”, “sit down”, or “give it to me”.
- Pays attention to pictures in books.
- Recognizes his/her name.
- Waves bye and plays pat-a-cake.
- Understands simple questions like “Where is the ball?”
- Can point to many things when named (ball, shoe, dog).
- Points to some body parts (Where is your nose, eye, etc?)
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- Can say mama and dada for parents.
- Can say at least 3 other words.
- Imitates new words.
- True words can be mixed with “gibberish/jargon” words.
- Uses some words instead of pointing to let you know what he/she wants.
- Imitates noises (ex: care noise, animal sounds).
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- Read books with simple pictures.
- Talk about what you are doing.
- Always say words correctly even if your child does not. For example, your child may say “wa wa” and you say “Water, that’s right!”
- Repeat new words.
- Play games like ball, pat-a-cake, naming body parts.
- Praise your child for talking by smiles, repeating, and talking back.
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18-24 months
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- Points to several body parts.
- Understands simple questions and commands and also some 2-step commands like “Go in your room and pick up your shoes.”
- Listen to stories with pictures.
- Can point to pictures of things when they are named.
- Stays with one activity 6-7 minutes.
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- At 18 months, can say 20 words and by 24 months can say at least 50 words.
- Name pictures.
- Put 2 words together (ex. Go bye bye, mama cookie).
- Says more and more words each week.
- Uses negative phrases like ”no want”.
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- Continue above suggestions.
- Expand your child’s sentences. When your child says one word, add another; and, when your child says two words, repeat with a third. For example, if your child says “cookie” you say “Eat cookie” or “Want cookie”. If your child says “More cookie” you say “Eat more cookie” or “Want more cookie”.
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