Ages & Stages: Language Development in Children
by The Child Development Institute
The following represents typical language development in children ages 18 months to 7 years old. Please note, there is a wide range of normal development. Most children will not follow the chart to the letter; please use this as a guideline. If your child seems significantly behind in language development, you should talk with his or her physician regarding your questions and concerns.
18 Months
• Has vocabulary of approximately five to 20 words
• Vocabulary made up chiefly of nouns
• Some repeating of a word or phrase over and over
• Much jargon with emotional content
• Is able to follow simple commands
2 Years
• Can name a number of objects common to his or her surroundings
• Is able to use at least two prepositions, usually chosen from the following: in, on, under
• Combines words into short sentences, largely noun-verb combinations, with (mean) length of
sentences 1.2 words
• Approximately 2/3 of what a child says should be intelligible
• Vocabulary of approximately 150 to 300 words
• Rhythm and fluency often poor
• Volume and pitch of voice not yet well-controlled
• Can use two pronouns correctly: I, me, you, although me and I are often confused
• My and mine are beginning to emerge
• Responds to such commands as “show me your eyes (nose, mouth, hair)”
4 Years
• Knows names of familiar animals
• Can use at least four prepositions or can demonstrate his understanding of their meaning when given commands
• Names common objects in pictures, books or magazines
• Knows one or more colors
• Can repeat four digits when they are given slowly
• Can usually repeat words of four syllables
• Demonstrates understanding of over and under
• Has most vowels and diphthongs and the consonants p, b, m, w, n well established
• Often indulges in make-believe
• Extensive verbalization as he carries out activities
• Understands such concepts as longer, larger, when a contrast is presented
• Readily follows simple commands even though the stimulus objects are not in sight
• Much repetition of words, phrases, syllables and sounds
6 Years
• In addition to the above consonants, these should be mastered: f, v, sh, zh, th, l
• Speech should be completely intelligible and socially useful
• Should be able to tell a rather connected story about a picture, seeing relationships between objects and happenings
7 Years
• Should have mastered the consonants s-z, r, voiceless th, ch, wh and the soft g, as in George
• Should handle opposite analogies easily: girl/boy, man/woman, flies/swims, blunt/sharp, short/long, sweet/sour, etc.
• Understands such terms as: alike, different, beginning, end, etc.
• Should be able to tell time to the quarter hour
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