From 2 to 3 years, your child:

• Understand many words including words for actions (run, jump, sit down), location of an object (in, under), pronouns (I, you), and simple opposites (big, little)
• Understands most of what you say to him/her
• Uses short sentences like “me do it”
• Pronounces words clearly but not perfectly
• Asks for things by name
• Asks simple questions
• Starts to tell simple stories
• Talks about his/her feelings
• Starts to play with other children
• Will listen to a whole story for up to 15 minutes
• Likes to pretend a make believe

• Listen when your child talks to you
• Describe what you are doing, planning, and thinking
• Have a conversation with your child, especially during quiet time together
• Be a good speech model - use correct words and phrases without correcting your child directly
• Add words and ideas to what your child says - if your child says “red truck” say “big red truck”
• Ask a few simple questions but not too many
• Play rhyming games with your child “What word sounds like cat?”
• Read books every day

From 3 to 4 years, your child:

• Understands many words and most of what you say to him/her
• Understands words that express ideas - like the time of day (morning, tonight), the position of things (in front, down), and questions that start with how and what if
• Understands directions that have 2 or 3 actions (look on the table and find a story book that you would like to read)
• Speaks so that most people can understand almost all of what he/she says
• Uses sentences that have 4 to 6 words
• Asks different questions such as how, why and when
• Can have long conversations with you
• Uses language to joke, tease and pretend
• Plays with other children

• Let your child help you do things such as cooking and gardening - talk about what you are doing
• Keep your child’s conversations going by paying attention and showing that you are interested
• Add new ideas to your conversations (example - talk about how things are the same and how they are different)
• Use words that your child has trouble with in your own speech
• Encourage your child to tell stories using books and pictures
• Start reading longer stories to your child
• Let your child play with other children
• Remember that it is normal for your child to repeat words and sounds at this age

4 to 5 years

From 4-5 years, your child:

• Can follow complex directions (“please pick up your toys and wash your hands before dinner”
• Understands and answers many questions
• Knows the difference between “heavy” and “light, “loud” and “soft”
• Can show you a few colours when you name them
• Is very easy to understand when he/she speaks
• Can tell you what words mean
• Uses complete sentences that have 4 to 8 words
• Can have a long conversation with you
• Listens to stories, conversations and movies
• Remembers a long story that has been read and can tell you about it
• Makes up his/her own stories
• Likes to play with a group of friends

• Talk about your activities when you are together
• Show your child different ways to use words (examples - use words that mean the same thing, that are opposites, rhyming words)
• Don’t expect perfect speech and try not to ask your child how well she/he can say things in front of others
• Ask your child to help you plan activities such as making a special meal
• Talk with your child as you would anybody else
• Read longer stories with your child
• Let your child make up stories for you
• Expose your child to playmates

Adapted from smallTALK
www.smalltalkinfo.ca

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Tags: Milestones, Reading, Literacy, Look Fors