NJ STEPS Developmental Milestones
Typical Speechand Language Development
and Language Development
Typical Developmental Milestones
1 Year Old:
- Understands a variety of words
- Expressive vocabulary of 3-20 words by 18 months
- Expressive vocabulary of 50 words by second birthday
2 Years Old:
- Expressive vocabulary of 200 words
- Combining two-three words together in phrases (i.e. more juice)
- Beginning to use simple grammar (verb + ing as in eating, running), (plurals)
- Others can understand 70% of child’s speech
2 1/2 Year Old:
- Expressive vocabulary of 500 words
- Can ask simple questions (i.e. What’s that?)
- Uses pronouns “I, me, my, you”
- Understands concepts “in/on/under”, “big/little”
3 Years Old:
- Expressive vocabulary of 800 words
- Combining 4-6 words in phrases or sentences
- Follows directions involving 2-3 objects (i.e. Get your coat and shoes)
- Can answer simple questions (i.e. What do you do when you are tired?)
- Others can understand most of child’s speech
- Uses compound sentences with “and”
- Beginning to ask questions (mostly “what” and “who”)
- Uses “is, are, am” in sentences
3 1/2 Years Old:
- Expressive vocabulary of 1,000-1,500 words
- Others can understand most of child’s speech
- Can hold long, detailed conversations
- Can answer situational questions (i.e. What do you do when you are tired/sleepy/hungry?)
- Asks “how, why, when” questions looking for detailed explanations
4 Years Old:
- Should be few omissions and substitutions of consonants in speech
- Very intelligible in connected speech
- Knows above, below, between, top, bottom
- Irregular plurals are consistent (child/children, man/men)
- Combines 4-7 words in sentences
- Produces most speech sounds correctly
- Asks the meaning of words
4 1/2 Years Old:
- Most consonant sounds are used consistently and accurately
- Can tell first/middle/last name
- Tells a long story accurately
- Asks the meaning of words
- Combines 5-8 words in sentences
5 Years Old:
- Understands more difficult concepts (yesterday/tomorrow, more/less, many/few, before/after, now/later
- Can state similarities and differences of objects
- Can tell opposites
- All pronouns are used consistently (she, her, him, his, they, them)
When to Refer to a Speech/Language Pathologist
18 months: Does not speak any words
2 Years Old: Does not have an expressive vocabulary of 50 words
2 1/2 Years Old: Does not combine two words together
3 Years Old:
- Parents have to interpret child’s speech to others on a regular basis
- Cannot answer “who” or “what “ questions
- Child shows frustration at not being understood by others
- Physical behaviors take the place of verbal communication (i.e. hitting, pointing)
- Does not use the following sounds correctly in conversational speech: n, m, p, b, h, f, w, t, d, k, g
4 Years Old:
- Only talks in 2-3 word phrases
- Cannot answer “what”, “where” or “why” questions
- Child shows frustration at not being understood by others
- Speech is difficult to understand or unintelligible compared to peers
- Does not use the following sounds correctly in conversational speech: p, b, m, h, t, d, k, g, y, f, n, w
5 Years Old:
- Does not use grammatically correct speech
- Produces 4-5 sounds incorrectly in speech (including r, l, s, z, sh, ch, v, j, th)
6 Years Old:
- Produces more than 2 sounds incorrectly in conversation
- Has difficulty following directions in the classroom
7 Years Old: Produces one or more speech sounds incorrectly in conversation
It may be recommended that your child receive an assessment in the area of speech and/or language. A standardized assessment will let you know if your child falls within the typical range of development for his or her age. If there is a significant delay, therapy will be recommended. Early intervention is the key to success. Children who enter school with speech and language delays are at a higher risk for learning difficulties.