Understanding Early Language Milestones and Their Importance

Early on, these communication skills become the building blocks for talking, making friends and understanding others. When kids learn to talk, they're also learning how to listen, how to share and how to be kind.

Watching your child grow and develop their communication skills is an exciting journey. But sometimes, you might notice they're not picking up words or sounds as quickly as other kids. That's okay! Every child learns at their own pace. But if you're worried, there are signs to look out for that signal if their communication skills are on track.

For babies, things like making eye contact, babbling and physical gestures are good signs that their communication abilities are developing. As they get older, using single words, following simple directions and having basic conversations are all positive milestones to celebrate.

If you notice your child isn't achieving these milestones or seems to be struggling with speaking or understanding, it might be time to get some extra help.

Keeping an eye out and monitoring communication development from infancy through early childhood gives you and your child a head start with addressing potential delays or difficulties. It also allows for timely intervention and support.

Persistent struggles in these areas could indicate the need for further evaluation or intervention to support speech and language development. Early intervention services can significantly improve outcomes for children with speech and language delays, helping them catch up to their peers and develop effective communication skills. Additionally, addressing communication challenges early can prevent frustration and behaviour issues that may arise from difficulties in expressing oneself or understanding others. With a little help and encouragement, your child should be chatting away in no time!

Use the following checklist to refer back to as your child develops to help track their communication skills.

Communication Milestones Checklist

Every child grows and learns at their own pace. This checklist gives you simple pointers on the communication skills your child will develop at certain ages. Remember, it's okay if your child doesn't have all the skills listed by the exact age. These are general guidelines.

Birth to 3 months:

Does your child:

• make cooing sounds
• have different cries for different needs
• smile at you
• startle to loud sounds
• soothe/calm to a familiar voice

4 to 6 months:

Does your child:

• babble and make different sounds
• make speech-like babbling sounds ('pa', 'ba' and 'mi')
• enjoy games like peekaboo
• turn their eyes toward a sound source
• respond to music or toys that make noise

7 to 12 months:

Does your child:

• wave hello and goodbye
• respond to their name
• use gestures like reaching for 'up' or shaking head 'no'
• begin to follow simple directions (e.g., 'where is your nose?')
• understand words for common items and people (cup, truck, mama, eat)
• babbles long strings of sounds ('upup' or 'bababa')
• points to objects and shows them to others
• imitates different speech sounds
  

12 to 18 months:

Does your child:

• say 1-5 words ('hi', 'dog', 'dada', 'eat', 'uh-oh')
• use p, b, m, h and w in words
• enjoy listening to simple stories and songs, points to body parts or pictures in a book when asked
• look at your face when talking to you
• follow one-part direction ('roll the ball')
  

18 to 24 months:

Does your child:

• understand more words than they can say
• use a lot of new words
• say two words together (e.g., 'more juice')
• respond to simple questions ('who's that?' or 'where are your shoes?')
• ask simple questions (e.g., 'what’s that?')
• take turns in a conversation
  

2 to 3 years:

Does your child:

• use sentences of three or more words most of the time
• use k, g, f, t, d and n in words
• understands and uses different concepts (e.g., in-on, up-down)
• follow two-part directions (e.g., 'take the book and put it on the table')
• answer simple questions (e.g., 'where is the car?')
  

3 to 4 years:

Does your child:

• tell a short story or talk about daily activities
• talk in sentences with adult-like grammar
• generally speak clearly so people understand
• say rhyming words (hat–cat)
• use pronouns (I, you, me, we, they)
• respond when you call from another room
• answer a variety of simple questions
  

4 to 5 years:

Does your child:

• pronounce most speech sounds correctly
• participate in and understand conversations
• follow longer directions (e.g., 'put your pyjamas on, brush your teeth and then pick out a book')
• use action words (jump, play, get)
• hear and understand most of what is said at home and school
• listen to and retell a story
• ask and answer questions about a story

Source: SAC-ac.ca / ASHA.org.

Signs Your Child May Need Extra Support

If you notice your child has difficulty with most milestones for their age, they might be at risk of a communication delay or disorder. Also, if any of the below apply to your child, it's important to pay attention and monitor their communication skills closely:

• they were born with low birth weight or were premature (born before 37 weeks)

• they had oxygen deprivation at birth

• there's a family history of speech, language, or learning issues

• there's a family history of hearing loss

• they've had repeated ear infections

• they often speak loudly or ask people to repeat themselves.

What You Can Do

If any of the above sounds like your child, or if you suspect a speech and language difficulty, it's a good idea to take proactive steps to address your concerns. Early intervention is very important. Here are some simple steps to get you started.

1. Consult your paediatrician: Schedule an appointment with your child's paediatrician to discuss your observations and concerns. Your paediatrician can assess your child's development and may refer you to a Speech Language Pathologist (SLP) or other specialist for further evaluation. Most insurance companies require a medical referral for speech therapy coverage.

2. Book a consultation with a qualified Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP): Reach out to a qualified SLP who will offer you a consultation to discuss your concerns further. They may recommend a comprehensive evaluation of your child's speech and language skills. The SLP will assess your child's ability to understand and use language, as well as their articulation, fluency and social skills. Based on the evaluation, the SLP will provide recommendations for intervention if necessary.

3. Follow through with recommendations: If the evaluation indicates that your child would benefit from speech and language therapy, it's important to follow through with the recommended treatment plan. Speech therapy can help address a wide range of communication issues, including articulation disorders, language delays, stuttering and social language skills.

4. Advocate for your child: Advocate for your child's needs within their educational and healthcare settings. Communicate openly with teachers, caregivers and therapists about your child's strengths, challenges and progress. Stay informed about your child's rights to access appropriate services and accommodations in school or other settings.

5. Provide a supportive language environment: Create a language-rich environment at home that encourages communication and language development. Engage in activities such as reading books together, playing language-rich games and modelling effective communication skills. Celebrate your child's progress and provide positive reinforcement for their efforts.

6. Stay informed and educated: Stay informed about speech and language development milestones for your child's age range. Educate yourself about different communication disorders and available resources in your community. If you're concerned about your child's speech or language, reaching out for help early can make a big difference. It not only improves their ability to communicate but also boosts their confidence and relationships. So don't wait – get the support you need for your little one as soon as possible.

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