Speech & Language Milestones

A young girl with pigtails playing with Mr. Potato Head toys on a colorful blanket in a playroom.

Early intervention is critical to supporting your child with communication. It can reduce frustrations and can change your child’s developmental path, improving outcomes for your child and family. If your child isn’t meeting their age-appropriate milestones, book a complimentary consultation with us today!

For Ages 1-5

A mom and her young child.

• Says 1-3 words
• Babbling with variety
• Waves “hi” and “bye-bye”
• Follows 1-step instructions
• Responds to their names
• Enjoys playing games like “peek-a-boo” & “pat-a-cake”

A young boy with red hair sitting inside a wooden play structure with circular holes.

• Uses common words, starts putting words together
• Understands simple instructions without gestures
• Uses gestures and points
• Knows some body parts

A young girl with a ponytail playing with a pink pig-shaped toy on a white table. She is seated on a small sofa with a unicorn pattern, next to a small wooden table.

•Uses short phrases, “mommy up” and puts words together
• Understands 2-step instructions and new words every week
• Can point to pictures in a book when asked
• Asks questions like, “where’s daddy?” and “what’s that?”

A young boy with red hair playing with colorful gear-shaped and peg toys on a wooden activity wall.

•Talks with you in conversation using sentences of 3+ words
• Can tell you their name (when asked)
• Understands some concepts (e.g., in/on, up/down)
• Answers simple questions (e.g., where’s your bunny?)

A young girl in a blue dress balancing barefoot on circular stepping stones on an outdoor play structure near a sandbox with a small sink.

• Can tell you a short story and what comes next in a familiar story
• Can answer questions like, “what is a pencil for?”
• Asks to play with other children alone
• Says sentences with 4+ words

Children playing inside a colorful playground tube slide outdoors on a sunny day with trees in the background.

• Can answer simple questions following a story
• Recognizes letters and sound-letter matches
• Uses and recognizes rhyming words
• Can tell a simple story with at least 3 parts
• Pronounces most speech sounds clearly