Typical Stages of Language Development

Below is a short summary of the stages of typical language development in children aged up to 5 years:

 

By the age of one year, a child is likely to be able to:

• respond to familiar sounds, such as the telephone ringing

• respond to simple commands, such as "no"

• recognise his or her own name

• respond to the names of familiar objects or people

• say a few words such as "dada" or "mama"

• enjoy sounds, music and books

• try to make familiar sounds such as car and animal noises

 

By the age of two years, a child is likely to be able to:

• say the names of simple body parts

• listen to stories and name objects in pictures

• understand simple statements, requests or questions such as "where's your shoe?"

• use more than fifty words

• talk to him or herself or toys during play

• sing simple songs such as 'Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star'

• use some pronouns (such as 'he' or 'it') instead of names

• try simple sentences, such as "milk all gone"

 

By the age of three years, a child is likely to be able to:

• understand how objects are used - for example that a crayon is something to draw with

• recognise his or her own needs, such as hunger

• follow directions

• use 3 or 4 word sentences

• begin to use basic grammar

• enjoy telling stories and asking questions

• have favourite books and television programs

• be understood by familiar adults

 

By the age of four years, a child is likely to be able to:

• say the names of shapes and colours

• understand some words relating to time, such as lunch time, today, winter

• ask questions about 'who?', 'what?' and 'why?'

• use around 900 words, usually in 4 - 5 word sentences

• use mostly correct grammar with occasional mistakes (such as "I falled down")

• become familiar with books and letters, even though they can't read yet

• speak clearly enough to be understood by most people

 

By the age of five years, a child is likely to be able to:

• know opposites, such as high and low, wet and dry, big and little

• use sentences of about six words with correct grammar

• talk about events that are happening, have happened or might happen

• explain why something happens, such as "mum's car stopped because it ran out of petrol"

• explain a series of instructions - for example, "stand up, get your shoes on and wait by the door"

• say how he or she feels and share ideas

• become interested in writing, numbers, counting and reading

• speak clearly enough to be understood by anyone

 

(Reference: Speech Pathology Australia)