A Guide to Language Development Milestones

As childcare professionals, you play a pivotal role in nurturing the foundational skills that shape a child's future. Language development isn't just about learning to speak; it's the critical first step in literacy, laying the groundwork for a child's entire journey in learning, reading, and writing. While every child's developmental path is unique, understanding typical language milestones is essential for effectively assessing and supporting the children in your care.

Engaging children through conversation and rich literacy experiences, like reading books, are powerful tools that promote both their expressive and receptive language skills. This guide will provide a detailed overview of common language milestones by age, alongside practical strategies you can integrate into your daily routines to foster robust language development in young children.

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What are language development milestones in early childhood?

Language development milestones in early childhood refer to the predictable sequence of skills that children typically acquire as they learn to understand and use language to communicate. These milestones serve as benchmarks, helping childcare providers and parents understand what communication abilities are generally expected at different ages.

This complex process isn't just about a child's first words; it encompasses a broad spectrum of abilities that are crucial for cognitive, social, and emotional growth.

What is language development?

Language development refers to the cognitive process of hearing and using sounds to communicate. Language development starts with sounds and gestures and develops into words and complete sentences. It establishes the foundation for other child development domains, such as cognitive, social, and literacy. 

Other benefits of language development include:

• Supports children’s ability to communicate by expressing desires and emotions
• Promotes children’s thinking ability
• Helps children develop and maintain relationships with teachers, caregivers, and peers
• Establishes the foundation for literacy skills such as reading and writing

The two main skill areas of language development are receptive and expressive language. The primary difference between expressive and receptive language skills lies in talking and listening. While receptive language skills involve listening and understanding, expressive language skills involve talking.

Expressive language

Expressive language is a child’s way of communicating thoughts and feelings through words, gestures, signs, and symbols. Expressive language development in children is progressive. Children begin to communicate using gestures, signs, and sounds, then graduate to simple words, sentences, and complex sentences.

Expressive language skills are how children use language dynamics to communicate what's on their minds. The skills involve proper sentence construction and using correct grammar and vocabulary.

Receptive language

Receptive language is a child’s ability to receive and interpret information. The information can take various forms like signs, sounds, text, gestures, and symbols. Children develop receptive language skills faster than expressive language. 

Examples of receptive language skills include

• Following directions
• Responding to comprehension questions
• Understanding new vocabulary

Stages of language development 

Language development doesn’t happen overnight. It’s a process starting from birth to school age. There are six primary stages of language development:

• Prelinguistic speech stage: Children acquire basic receptive and expressive language skills in this stage. The stage begins at birth and typically lasts six months. Children primarily use sounds to respond to different stimuli. Typical sounds during the prelinguistic speech stage are cooing, crying, and burping.
• Babbling stage: This stage begins around month six and usually lasts through one year. Children’s pharyngeal cavities and jaws are more developed around this time, and they communicate more through babbling sounds. They also make the same consonant and vowel sounds regardless of language. 
• The first words stage: This stage lasts from month six through two years. It overlaps with the babbling stage. For example, with the English language, it’s common to hear children making sounds like mama, dada, and no.
• The two-word stage: This stage starts around age two and lasts for about six months. Children make more distinct sounds at this stage. They also expand their vocabulary knowledge. Examples of words children use at this stage could be something like, “mommy shoes” to refer to their mother putting on shoes. Usually you can only understand what children mean at this stage when you relate what they say to the context.
• The telegraphic stage: Children graduate to this stage between two and three years old. Children can string more than two words by putting together three, four, or even five words. Their style of speaking is similar to the writing style used in telegrams.
• Beyond the telegraphic stage: This stage starts around age three and continues until children develop language skills. 

Language development and other developmental domains

Language development and growth in other early childhood developmental domains are closely connected. As children acquire and master language skills, their physical, cognitive, and social-emotional development is also supported. Likewise, as children grow and develop in those crucial areas, their language development improves.

Physical

Language development supports children's physical development as they begin to understand and respond to instructions related to moving their bodies. Typical instructions could include throwing or kicking a ball. 

Alternatively, when a child’s motor skills are delayed, they can still learn language; however, physical development can affect language in terms of oral language development and speech articulation. Speech production requires physical and motor abilities where children need to learn how to make speech sounds and control their speech.

Cognitive

Cognitive development refers to the ability to process information mentally. Children require cognitive skills to think, read, learn, reason, and pay attention. Language development supports cognitive skills through the learned ability to read and write. Children also use their language skills for critical thinking and problem-solving. 

Cognition also directly affects language skills. If cognitive development is delayed, this can affect receptive language development such as understanding conversations and following directions.

Social-emotional

Social-emotional development refers to how children relate to others. Language development helps children express and regulate their emotions and form relationships through communication. 

The social situations that children experience help them naturally acquire language. These interactions allow children to further their language development by building their vocabulary and phonological skills, such as identifying syllables and words that rhyme.

Adaptive

This is the self-care component of child growth and development. It refers to things like eating, bathing, and dressing. The adaptive development domain depends on instructions and directions, which children learn to understand and follow. This is why language development is crucial to successful adaptive domain development.

Activities Across Developmental Domains

Use this guide to craft strategies for activities that foster child development across developmental domains.

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Language and speech development milestones

The below language and speech development chart summarizes key milestones by age group.

0-3 months

Children know their parents’ or caregivers' voices between birth and month three. They'll quiet down quickly when crying after hearing a parent's or caregiver's voice. They also startle upon hearing loud sounds.

Other language development skills in this age group include responding to rattle sounds, making noise and smiling when spoken to, and vocalizing sounds other than crying.

3-6 months

Children’s language development skills improve significantly in this age group. They turn or look towards new sounds, enjoy rattles and playing with sound-producing toys, and vocalize when you talk to them. They also respond to no and voice tone change variations. Around this time, they repeat sounds like baba, mama, ahh, and ooh.

6-9 months

This is a crucial time for developing receptive language skills. Children look or turn in the direction of the sound. They're also more attentive and listen intently to different sounds. You'll notice them taking an active interest in conversations, whether they're being addressed.

They also know their name and respond when called. Children in this age group can differentiate between different tones and voices and respond appropriately. Other language development milestones in this age group include:

• Repeating syllables
• Imitating speech sounds
• Experimenting with pitch and volume
• Babbling more random consonants and vowels
• Making long sounds
• Expressing themselves through sound and body language
• Playing with sound-producing toys

9-12 months 

Language development takes a new turn between nine and 12 months. Children listen more intently when spoken to and recognize family members' names and other common words. They also understand gestures and respond to requests.

Other language development milestones in this age group include:

• Babbling short and long groups of sounds
• Using other sounds besides crying to get attention
• Engaging in vocal play
• Practicing inflections
• Using more consonant and vowel sounds
• Shouting and screaming

12-18 months 

Language development in the second year of life improves significantly compared to the first year. During this timeframe, children recognize their names, understand directions, laugh appropriately, understand gestures, and understand the word no.

They can also ask for help using gestures, sounds, and four to six intelligible words. Their language skills develop further between 15 and 18 months, and they can do the following:

• Use more intelligible words (between 10 and 20)
• Use complete words
• Follows directions given with both a gesture and words

18 months-2 years old 

Between 18 and 24 months, children understand there’s a word for everything. Their words are more universal and include names of foods, animals, toys, family members, or vehicles. Also, they learn general words like animals instead of cat. Other language development skills at this age include:

• Learning more words for social situations and greetings
• Expressing love emotions
• Using more intelligible words (between 20 and 50)
• Following one-step directions
• Knowing and identifying different body parts
• Asking two-word questions

2-3 years old 

Children experience an explosion in language development between two and three years. In this age group, children are saying 50 words or more, can construct two- or three-word sentences, and can follow two-step instructions.

Other language developmental milestones include:

• Using pronouns
• Using past tense and plurals
• Repeating rhymes, songs, and stories
• Answering “what” questions

3-4 years old 

Around this age, children’s language development is more advanced. Nearly everything can be understood when a child speaks in this age group. They can also understand what they hear and have more than 100 words in their vocabulary.

Other language development milestones include:

• Using pronouns correctly
• Saying three to six-word sentences
• Answering simple questions like, "What is a spoon for?"

4-5 years old 

Children's language development skills thrive between four and five years. They can verbalize extensively, communicate hassle-free, articulate most words correctly, know over 1,000 words, and construct sentences with four or more words. They also begin to tell simple stories and answer related questions.

5-6 years old 

Children’s language is more developed and refined between five and six years. Language development skills in this age group include:

• Following three consecutive directives
• Tells stories with at least two events
• Answers questions about a story after hearing it 
• Using or recognizing simple rhymes

Strategies and activities to promote language development 

As childcare providers, your intentional interactions and environmental design are powerful tools for fostering language development. Early literacy and language activities help to strengthen language development and help children become successful speakers, listeners, readers, and writers. Here's how you can apply practical strategies across different age groups:

For infants (0-12 months):

• Create a language-rich environment: Surround infants with language by frequently talking, singing, and reading aloud. Use soft voices, respond to their coos and babbles, and describe actions as you perform them. Provide board books and soft toys that invite interaction.
• Model and scaffold early sounds: Imitate your infants' vocalizations to encourage turn-taking. Respond to their gestures and sounds as if they are meaningful conversations, expanding on their attempts (e.g., if a baby says "ba," you can say, "Yes, that's a ball!").
• Facilitate simple group interactions: Engage small groups of infants in "lap time" for songs, rhymes, and simple picture book sharing, pointing to objects and naming them.
• Observe and document early communications: Keep simple notes on infants' emerging sounds, first words, and non-verbal communication (like pointing or waving) to track individual progress and inform interactions.

For toddlers (12-36 months)

• Design a stimulating language environment: Arrange play areas with a variety of engaging materials that prompt communication, such as dramatic play props, animal figures, and block sets. Label items around the room with pictures and words.
• Model and scaffold expanding language: When a toddler uses a single word, expand on it. If they say "juice," you can respond with, "You want more juice!" or "Here's the yummy juice." Ask simple open-ended questions like "What do you see?"
• Engage in interactive group activities: Lead circle time with interactive songs, fingerplays, and story-reading where toddlers can participate by pointing, repeating words, or making animal sounds. Encourage simple "show-and-tell" with familiar objects.
• Weave language into daily routines: During snack time, talk about the food's color, shape, and taste. During cleanup, sing songs about putting toys away and name the items. Use transitions as opportunities for simple instructions and descriptive language.
• Document emerging vocabulary and sentences: Note down new words toddlers use, the length of their phrases (e.g., "two-word phrases"), and their ability to follow simple directions. This helps in tailoring your support.

For preschoolers (3-5 years)

• Cultivate a rich communication environment: Ensure your classroom has a well-stocked library, a designated writing center, and props for imaginative play that encourage dialogue and storytelling. Promote print awareness by labeling everything.
• Model complex language and encourage elaboration: Use varied vocabulary and complete sentences. Prompt children to elaborate on their ideas, "Tell me more about your drawing," or "What do you think will happen next?" Facilitate problem-solving through conversation.
• Lead engaging group discussions and activities: Incorporate daily large-group discussions about books, events, or themes. Plan cooperative games and projects that require children to communicate, negotiate, and share ideas. Encourage dramatic play that involves role-playing and dialogue.
• Leverage all routines for language growth: During independent playtime, engage in one-on-one conversations about what children are building or pretending. Use lunch as a time for sharing news and listening. Even waiting in line can be an opportunity for quick games that reinforce concepts or vocabulary.
• Track narrative skills and social communication: Document children's ability to tell a story, their use of grammar, their participation in conversations, and how they use language to interact with peers. This supports targeted interventions or enrichment.

Signs of language delays and when to seek professional help

As childcare providers, you are often the first to notice when a child might be struggling with language development. Your keen observation skills are invaluable in identifying potential areas of concern, allowing for timely support.

What to observe:

Pay close attention to consistent patterns in a child's communication. Some key indicators that might suggest a need for further evaluation include:

• Limited or absent cocalizations: For infants, a lack of babbling by 7-9 months, or for toddlers, very few words by 18 months.
• Lack of eye contact or shared gaze: Difficulty making or maintaining eye contact, or not following your gaze to look at objects.
• Difficulty following instructions: Not understanding simple commands appropriate for their age (e.g., "Come here" for a toddler, or "Put the blocks in the bin" for a preschooler).
• Limited use of gestures: Not using gestures like pointing, waving, or shaking their head "no" by 12-18 months.
• Repetitive or echolalic speech: For older toddlers/preschoolers, consistently repeating words or phrases without understanding or using them functionally.
• Lack of response to sounds or name: Not reacting to loud noises or consistently failing to respond when their name is called.
• Difficulty interacting with peers: For preschoolers, struggling to engage in reciprocal conversations or play with other children.
• Significant regression: A noticeable loss of previously acquired language skills.

When and how to communicate with parents/guardians:

Approaching parents or guardians about developmental concerns requires sensitivity and a supportive approach. Remember, your role is to share observations, not to diagnose.

• Focus on observations: Begin by sharing specific, objective observations you've made during various activities and routines. For example, "I've noticed that during circle time, Liam sometimes has trouble following two-step directions, like 'stand up and find a blue block.'"
• Express your care: Reassure parents that your concerns come from a place of care for their child's well-being and development. 
• Suggest a collaborative approach: Frame the conversation as a partnership.
• Avoid jargon and diagnosis: Do not use clinical terms or suggest a specific condition. Stick to what you see and hear.
• Recommend next steps: Gently suggest that parents discuss these observations with their child's pediatrician, as they can offer further guidance and assessments.

Understanding referral pathways:

While you don't diagnose, knowing about potential referral pathways is crucial for guiding parents to the right resources.

• Pediatrician: The child's pediatrician is always the first point of contact. They can rule out medical issues (like hearing loss) and provide referrals to specialists.
• Early intervention services (EIS): For children from birth to three years old, state-funded Early Intervention programs can provide free developmental evaluations and services (like speech therapy) if a delay is identified.
• Speech-language pathologist (SLP): An SLP specializes in evaluating and treating speech and language disorders. Pediatricians can provide direct referrals to SLPs.
• School district services: For children aged three and older, local public school districts often offer free evaluations and special education services, including speech therapy, if a child qualifies.

By observing carefully, communicating empathetically, and understanding these referral avenues, childcare providers play a vital role in ensuring children receive the support they need to thrive. 

Bottom line

Nurturing language development in early childhood is one of the most impactful contributions childcare providers make to a child's foundational learning journey. By understanding typical milestones, intentionally designing language-rich environments, implementing diverse communication strategies across all age groups, and diligently observing and documenting progress, you equip young learners with the essential tools for self-expression, social connection, and future academic success. 

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