Normal Speech and Language Growth: Ages 1 to 3 years

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Thank you for joining me for week 4 of my Normal Speech and Language Development Series. Last week I explored the changes and growth that occurs during 12 to 24 months of age, as little ones begin walking, talking and becoming toddlers. This week I will continue that discussion and show the progression into the next phase of 24-36 months.

On the "Children's Health Guide" of the WebMD website, a child's speech and language development is broken down into receptive and expressive language. For parents reading this blog who may not be sure just what these terms mean, Receptive Language refers to what a child is able to understand, how they follow directions and take in the world around them. Expressive Language looks at how a child is able to communicate and express themselves whether it is verbally or through gestures, signs or pointing to pictures. The following is a look at what receptive language looks like with typically developing children ages 1-2 years according to WebMD:

• Learn that words have meaning
• Usually recognize the names of family members and familiar objects.
• Understand simple statements such as "all gone" and "give me."
• Between 1 and 2 years, understand simple requests such as "give daddy the ball."

WebMD also states that by 18 months, typically developing children should "know the names of people, body parts, and objects". Once children are over the age of 2, their receptive language increases and if developing at a typical pace, during the year between 24-36 months, children should:

• Know the name of at least seven body parts.
• Increase their understanding of object names.
• Follow simple requests (such as "put the book on the table").
• When asked, point to a picture of something named (such as "Where is the cow?" or "Show me the airplane.")

During these two years, expressive language advances as well and typically developing children will start off using gestures, babbling and maybe saying a word or two around age 1 to using more and more words, phrases and complete sentences by age 3. According to WedMD, expressive language skills for typically developing children ages 12-24 months includes the following:

• Use gestures, such as pointing.
• Babble less than babies do.
• Often make one- or two-syllable sounds that stand for items they want, such as "baba" for "bottle," and point to things they want.
• *Between 12 months and 18 months of age, may use their own language, sometimes called jargon that is a mix of made-up words and understandable words.
• Between 1 and 2 years, usually can say between 20 and 50 words that are intelligible to family members.

Between 24-36 months, expressive language will really take off for many typically developing children. WebMD states that during this time, children will:

• Continue to learn and use gestures.
• Sometimes talk a lot, although some are quiet.
• If quiet, develop a communication system using gestures and facial expressions; are likely to develop normal language skills
• Usually can name some body parts (such as arms and legs), favorite toys, and familiar objects (such as cats and dogs).
• Use pronouns like "me" and "you," but they often get them mixed up.
• Can make phrases, such as "no bottle" or "want cookie."
• By age 3, usually can say between 150 to 200 words. Strangers can understand them about 75% of the time.

The following link will bring you to ASHA's website http://www.asha.org/public/speech/development/23.htm and a chart outlining what receptive and expressive language look like at 24-36 months. ASHA's chart includes skills that WebMD does not, such as understanding concepts such as "stop-go", "up-down", following 2-step requests and using 2-3 words consistently to communicate and ask for what they want/need.

Join me next week as we continue to explore typical speech and language development in young children!