SPEECH AND LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT OF THE 5 TO 6-YEAR OLD CHILD
This is a pivotal time for speech and language development, as children continue to refine their communication skills and gain a deeper understanding of how language works. At this age, children begin to use more complex sentences, expand their vocabulary significantly, and develop stronger conversational skills. They can articulate ideas more clearly, understand and use a variety of grammatical structures, and engage in back-and-forth conversations with ease. Their language skills also start to support early literacy development, helping them with reading, writing, and following multi-step instructions. Below we explore the key milestones in speech and language development for children aged 5 to 6.
What speech and language development can you expect to see at this age?
- Your child recognizes letters and begins to match letters and their sounds
- Recognizes some words by sight
- Identifies and writes uppercase and lowercase letters
- Begins to write letters and some words often heard
- Prints own first and last name
- Begins to write short stories with some readable parts with assistance
- Retells simple stories
- Understands opposite concepts (e.g. big/little, over/under)
- Understands left/right
- Uses more than 2200 words
- Asks for the meaning of words
- Announces topic shifts
- Can explain how things are similar and different
- Can repeat sentences up to nine words in length
- Engages in cooperative play, such as making group decisions, assigning roles, and playing fairly
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:
- Struggles to speak in full sentences.
- Has trouble being understood by people outside the family.
- Avoids speaking or answering questions.
- Has difficulty following instructions or staying on topic.
Next Steps: What to Do if You Have Concerns
If you notice one or more of the red flags above, consider scheduling an assessment with a speech therapist. The speech therapist can assess your child’s speech, language and early litereacy development. Early intervention can help your child develop the skills they need to communicate effectively.