Typical Development
| PLAY & SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT |
RECEPTIVE LANGUAGE (UNDERSTANDING OF LANGUAGE) |
EXPRESSIVE LANGUAGE (USE OF LANGUAGE) |
SOUND SYSTEM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0-3 months | Maintains brief eye contact during feeding.Responds to adult interaction Attempts to imitate facial expressions | Quiets to a familiar voice Moves in response to a voice Attends to a speakerÕs mouth | Uses different kinds of cries Coos Vocalize two different sounds | Cooing, typically makes sounds in the back of the throat |
| 3-6 months | Similes spontaneously to human contact Smiles at self in a mirror May stop crying when spoken to Reaches for objects Bangs objects in play | Turns head toward a voice Searches for the speaker Responds to sounds other than voices. | Vocalizes in response to singing Vocalizes feedings through intonation Takes turns vocalizing | Babbles Produce raspberries Chuckles, laughs |
| 6-9 months | Beginning to relate objects together with little meaning e.g. bangs objects together. Enjoys peek-a-boo Imitates band clapping. | Some situational understanding, e.g. child will look in response to “DaddyÕs coming”. Begins responding to name, ÔnoÕ and “bye bye” | Vocalizes and shouts for attention. Babbles in strings and sounds. Vocalize during play |
Imitates duplicated syllables |
| 9-12 months | Searches for dropped toy, uncovers hidden toy. Extend arm to show objects Tries to secure an object out of reach Aware of cause and Effect | Gives objects upon to others upon verbal request Performs a routine activity upon verbal request Identifies two body parts on self | Makes sounds that may be recognizable as words with meaning, e.g. da-da for daddy. Loud tuneful babbling. |
Jaw driven open vowels with m,b (mama, baba), may also produce “dada” |
| 12-18 months | Shows anticipation Can use shared attention Simple symbolic play develops, e.g. hug/pat/feed doll | Recognize own name Understand “no” Follow simple instructions (when gestures are given)
Points to body parts on self and doll. Can find 2 familiar, named objects |
Waves “bye” Some recognizable words with clear intent to communicate (eg. “more”, “up”). Attempt to imitate words
6-20 words. Will echo the prominent/last word in sentences he/she hears. |
More early consonants (m,n, b, p, d) with some vowels (a, o, ee). |
| 2 years | Can match object to picture. Plays alongside other children.
Can match picture to picture. Watches others play. Has tantrums if thwarted. |
Understands sentences containing two parts: – give the cup to bear – give the ball to cat Understands functions of objects, e.g. which one do we read? Which one do we eat? |
50 recognizable words, putting 2 words together, eg. “mommy shoe”, “more apple” Jargon conversations while playing 200 recognizable words. Loves to ask ‘what‘ ‘where‘ Some non-fluency may occur | m n b p t d w h |
| 3 years | Begins to share. Plays with other children Make believe play (inventing people and objects in play). Begins to understand concept of past and future events Knows some feelings | Understands concepts of size (big/little) Understands basic concepts of position (in, on, under) Understands commands containing three parts: – put cup in table – put ball under chair |
Use 3 word combinations such as “bear wants bikkie” Past tense developing, e.g. “the boy drew a picture”. Longer sentences developing, e.g. “Me give ball to daddy”. | f s k g v, l (emerging), y as in “yeah” |
| 4 years | Understands turn-taking as well as sharing. Awareness of time and different contexts Awareness of appropriate behaviors Acts out stories in play with toys and other children. Enjoys telling stories- may try to tell jokes or being funny. | Understands commands containing 4 parts – put red cup on the table – give daddy the green ball Able to identify many colors and shapes reliably. Understand “why” questions by responding appropriately. |
Use sentences with ease (4-5 words or more) Will ask many questions including “who” and “why” Can combine sentences using “and”, “when”, and “if” Begin to define objects by use | s, sh, ch , j (as in jello), r Consonant clusters developing: r clusters (pr/br/tr/dr/kr/gr) l clusters (bl/pl/cl) S clusters: (sp/st/sk/sl/sm/sn/sw) |
| 5 years | Shows empathy- recognizing others’ feelings. Able to tell story with a simple plot and sequence. Will ask questions to get more information. Will negotiate | Understand more abstract concepts: same/different, opposites (hard/soft) Able to remember key information of short stories. | Use increasing complex sentence structures with 6+ more words. Use future, present and past tenses | Perfecting of all sounds and consonant clusters Speech should be clear to most people Continued to develop z, th, zh (as in measure) |