Every child is unique and has an individual rate of development. This chart represents, on average, the age by which most children will accomplish the listed skills.
1 to 2 years
Hearing and Understanding:
¨ Points to a few body parts when asked.
¨ Follows simple commands and understands questions (“Roll the ball,” “Kiss the baby,” “Where’s your shoe?”).
¨ Listens to simple stories, songs, and rhymes.
¨ Points to pictures in a book when named.
Talking:
¨ Says more words every month.
¨ Uses some 1-2-word questions (“Where Kitty?” “Go bye-bye?” What’s that?”).
¨ Puts 2 words together (“more cookie,” “no juice,” “mommy book”).
¨ Uses many different consonant sounds of the beginnings of words.
2 to 3 years
Hearing and Understanding:
¨ Understands differences in meaning (“go-stop,” “in-on,” “big-Little,” “up-down”).
¨ Follows two request (Get the book and put it on the table”).
Talking:
¨ Has a word for almost everything.
¨ Uses 2-3-word “sentences” to talk about and ask for things.
¨ Speech is understood by familiar listeners most of the time.
¨ Often asks for or directs attention to objects by naming them.
Children typically don’t master all items in a category until they reach the upper age in each range.
Information provided by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.
