Speech Journeys LLC

Birth-3 Months

• Startles near loud sounds

• Quiets or smiles when spoken to

• Seems to recognize your voice and quiets if crying

• Increases or decreases sucking behavior in response to sound

• Makes pleasure sounds (cooing, gooing)

• Cries differently for different needs

 

4-6 Months

• Moves eyes in direction of sounds

• Responds to changes in tone of your voice

• Notices toys that make sounds

• Babbling sounds more speech-like with many different sounds (i.e. p, b and m)

• Chuckles and laughs

• Vocalizes excitement and displeasure

 

7 Months-1 Year

• Enjoys games like peek-a-boo and pat-a-cake

• Turns and looks in direction of sounds

• Listens when spoken to

• Recognizes words for common items like cup, shoe, book, or juice

• Begins to respond to requests (e.g. "Come here" or "Want more?")

• Babbling has both long and short groups of sounds such as "tata upup bibibibi"

• Uses speech or noncrying sounds to get and keep attention

• Uses gestures to communication (waving, holding arms to be picked up)

• Has one or two words (hi, dog, dada, mama) around first birthday, although sounds may not be clear

 

1 -2 Years

• Points to a few body parts when asked

• Follows simple commands and understands simple questions ("Roll the ball," "Kiss the baby," "Where's your shoe?")

• Listens to simple stories, songs, and rhymes

• Points to pictures in a book when named

• Says more words every month

• Uses some one- or two- word questions ("Where kitty?" "Go bye-bye?" "What's that?")

• Puts two words together ("more cookie," "no juice," "mommy book")

• Uses many different consonant sounds at the beginning of words.

 

2-3 Years

• Understands differences in meaning (go/stop, in/on, big/little, up/down)

• Follows two simultaneous requests ("Get the book and put it on the table.")

• Listens to and enjoys hearing stories for longer periods of time

• Has a word for almost everything

• Uses two- or three- word phrases to talk about and ask for things

• Speech is understood by familiar listeners most of the time

• Often asks for or directs attention to objects by naming them

 

3-4 Years

• Answers simple "who?", "what?", "where?", and "why?" questions

• Talks about activities at school or at friends' homes

• People outside of the family usually understand child's speech

• Uses sentences that have 4 or more words

 

4-5 Years

• Pays attention to short stories and answers simple questions about them

• Hears and understands most of what is said at home and in school

• Uses sentences that give lots of details ("The biggest peach is mine.")

• Tells stories that stick to topic

• Communicates easily with other children and adults

• Says rhyming words

• Names some letters and numbers

• Uses the same grammar as the rest of the family

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