Understanding

Talking

What Can I Do?

• Startles to a sudden loud noise

• Be soothed or calmed by your voice

• Turns head toward you when you speak

• Appears to smile or otherwise focus on voices when spoken to

• Wakes up in response to loud sounds

• Coos, gurgles, and makes other pleasant “baby sounds”

• Mimics facial expressions (sticks tongue out when you do so repeatedly)

• Has different cries for different circumstances (hunger, discomfort)

• Start reading simple board books to your baby

• Sing songs to your baby (let them see your mouth move)

• Become aware of your baby's moods and diffferent sounds

• Turns or looks toward source of a new sound

• Responds to changes in tone of voice

• Enjoys toys that make sounds (rattles, etc.)

• Begins to repeat simple sounds (aah, ba-ba, ooh)

• Makes razzing or bubble sounds, even when eating

• May squeal or shriek

• Begin using simple sign language with  your baby (more, all done, eat, sleep, bye bye)

• Imitate movements, faces and sounds your baby makes so that you have a "conversation"

• Responds to his/her name

• Responds to environmental sounds (door bell, telephone, etc.) even if not loud

• Begins responding to requests such as “come here”

• Looks at objects when someone speaks about them (look at the birdy, etc.)

•  Knows words to common items (bottle, diaper, etc.)

• Babbles to self, even when alone

• Babbling may sound "speech-like" in tone

•  May begin to sign common words (milk, all done)

• Expresses preferences clearly, if still nonverbally

• Continue signing 

• Sing “interactive” play songs (itsy-bitsy spider, wheels on the bus, I’m a little teapot) to your baby

•  Talk about what you are doing while you do it (I'm washing your hair, next we'll do your arms).

• Enjoys games like peek-a-boo

• Can follow simple (one-step) commands accompanied by gestures

• Plays with her voice, taking pleasure in changing sounds

• Points to familiar objects or people when asked to 

• Imitates simple sounds 

• Uses at least one word meaningfully

• Imitate sounds and words your child says 

• Ask simple questions while reading: who's that? where's the duck?

• Keep reading

• Follows simple commands (give me your toy) without being shown

• Can point to some body parts when asked (Where’s your nose?)

• Uses 2 or 3 word phrases to make requests or describe something (look doggie, more milk)

• Talks in what sound like multi-word sentences (meaning may not be intelligible)

• Talk about common vocabulary during daily routines (body parts while getting dressed, etc)

•  Label items and actions in the environment

• Teach your child to point to what they want if they don't know the word.

• Responds to simple yes/no questions (Are you hungry?)

• Understands simple phrases (on the table, in your crib)

• Enjoys being read to

• Understands you when you call from another room

• 50 words (pronunciation is unclear)

• Asks for food by name (yogurt, more milk)

• Uses possessive pronouns (mine)

• Regularly uses 2-3 word phrases

• Makes animal sounds (ruff, moo)

• Read together

• Have your child point to pictures in books

• Encourage child to use their words for communication

• Model good language for child

• Talk about what's going on around you

• Can choose things by size (Show me the little block)

• Understands “not now” and “no more”

• Can follow two step commands (get your toy and come here)

• Understands many action words (run, jump)

• Vocabulary of 250 to 1000 words

• Speech is clearer (strangers may not yet understand due to dropped word endings, etc.)

• Uses simple pronouns correctly (me, you, her)

• Uses descriptive words (big, happy)

• Knows some spatial words (on, in)

• Uses 3 or more words in a sentence

• Answers simple questions

• Begins to use or experiment with past tense (I jumped) and plurals

• Uses inflection when asking questions

• Don't correct pronunciation or grammar, but model correct versions. (i.e., child: "I do'ed it!" parent: "yes, you did it!")  

• Describe in detail events that happen to the child throughout the day. "First, we'll go to the store, then we'll go to the playground. Maybe you'll go on the swings."

• Expand on what your child says without expecting them to repeat. So, your child says: "bird!" You say, "yes, I see the bird too. It's a pretty red bird that says 'tweet tweet'".

• Answers a variety of simple "wh" questions (who, what doing, where)

• Understands a sequence of events described to him/her (first we'll ___, then we'll ___)

• Understands most of what is said to him/her about events in immediate past, present, future that are directly related to child.

• Understands terms like "yesterday" "later today" and "tomorrow"

• Points to pictures in books based on verbal description (which cat is sleeping?)

• Can identify colors

• Can accurately group items (animals vs. food vs. clothing)

• Strangers can understand most of what your child says

• Has fun with language (reacts to silly questions like is there a giraffe on your bed?)

• Can begin to express ideas or feelings

• Uses consonants in beginning, middle and end of words (may not pronounce all consonant combinations clearly, but attempts to do so)

• Uses –ing verbs (walking, eating, etc.)

• Play with sounds and language: make silly word combinations

• Continue reading!

• Respond to his/her comments with encouragement for more: "really? what then?"

• Label feelings for your child: "when you fell down you really felt hurt and mad"

• Cook with your child to work on sequencing and vocabulary.

• Understands most of what is said to him/her about recent past, present and future events.

• Understands terms like "next week" and "in the fall"

• Knows a variety of colors and shapes, including some less common ones (light blue, diamond)

• Can answer why questions

• Follows complex directions, (after you get your shoes, get your backpack)

• Understands the majority of what is said to him/her AS WELL AS what is said AROUND him/her.

• Learns new vocabulary easily

• Recognizes certain letters

• May know some letter sounds

• May recognize some words in context

• 2000+ word vocabulary

• Can explain & follow at least three-stage sequences (what happened first, second, third, etc.)

• Sentences can be more than eight words long

• Actively uses imagination to tell stories

• Uses multiple descriptors (including comparative references) to describe an object

• Engages in elaborate conversation with adults and peers

• Pay attention to your language and topics around your child

• Explain new vocabulary clearly and concisely

• For complex topics (sex, race, etc) answer the question that the child asks (not the one you think was buried underneath)

• Talk TO your child -- he/she is probably good company.

• Point out signs in the environment that your child may recognize (stop, street signs, restaurants)