SPEECH AND LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT OF THE 2 to 3-YEAR OLD CHILD
The age between 2 and 3 is a dynamic and exciting time in a child’s speech and language development. During this period, toddlers rapidly expand their vocabulary, start to form more complex sentences, and engage in simple conversations. Their growing ability to understand and use language marks a crucial step in their cognitive and social development. Below we delve into the key milestones in speech and language development for children aged 2 to 3 years.
What speech and language development can you expect to see at this age?
- Distinguished between “in” and “under”, “one” and “many”.
- Begins to use adjectives for colour and size.
- Points to pictures in a book when named
- Identifies and names basic body parts (e.g. “nose”, “ears”)
- Follows simple 2-3 step instructions, especially with a gestural cue (e.g. “Go to the kitchen and bring me your plate.”)
- Likes to listen to books/stories for longer periods of time
- Speech is 50 – 75% intelligible by 24 months
- Speech is 75%-100% intelligible by 36 months
- Expressive vocabulary of 100 – 300 words
- Verbalizes toilet needs
- Requests items by name (e.g. “Give my ducky.”)
- Answers simple questions (e.g. “Where is…”; “Can you…”)
- Most frequent question words used in 1–2-word questions are ‘what’ and ‘where’ (e.g. “What is that?” and “Where is daddy?”)
- Uses 3 – 4 or more words in a phrase (e.g. “I want more juice” or “Daddy going to work”)
- Uses some pronouns (e.g. my, mine, you, your, she, he, yours)
- Uses some verb endings (e.g. running) and plurals (e.g. books)
- Gives first name and holds up fingers to show age
- Tries to repair a “conversation” when the listener does not understand
Red Flags: When to Seek Help
If your child is showing one or more of the following signs, it might be helpful to consult a speech therapist for further evaluation:
- Limited Vocabulary: If your child isn’t using at least 50 words by age 2.
- No Word Combinations: If your child isn’t combining two words into simple phrases, like “want cookie” or “big truck”.
- Speech Is Unclear: If your child’s speech is not understandable by familiar adults, or if they’re not making any effort to communicate.
- Limited Interest in Social Interaction: If your child seems uninterested in interacting with others or avoids eye contact and communication.
- Difficulty Following Directions: If your child cannot follow simple directions like “Give me the ball” or “Come here.”
- Not Imitating Words: If your child is not attempting to imitate words or actions, a key part of learning language at this age.
- Limited Pronoun Use: If your child is not using basic pronouns like “I,” “you,” or “me.”
Next Steps: What to Do if You Have Concerns
If you notice one or more of the red flags above, scheduling an appointment with a speech therapist that has a special interest in working with children between the ages of 0 and 3 years. The speech therapist can assess your child’s speech and language development. Early intervention can help your child develop the skills they need to communicate effectively.