Children learn to talk during the first two years of their life. Long before they utter their first word, they start learning the rules of language by observing how adults communicate with each other. Here's how you can expect your baby's talking to progress:
By age one
Recognises name
Says 2-3 words besides "mama" and "dada"
Imitates familiar words
Understands simple instructions
Recognises words as symbols for objects: Car - points to garage, cat – meows
Activities to encourage your child's language
Respond to your child's coos, gurgles, and babbling
Talk to your child as you care for him or her throughout the day
Read colorful books to your child every day
Tell nursery rhymes and sing songs
Teach your child the names of everyday items and familiar people
Take your child with you to new places and situations
Between 1-2 years
Understands "no"
Uses 10 to 20 words, including names
Activities to encourage your child's language
Reward and encourage early efforts at saying new words
Talk to your baby about everything you're doing while you're with him
Talk simply, clearly, and slowly to your child
Talk about new situations before you go, while you're there, and again when you are home
Look at your child when he or she talks to you
Describe what your child is doing, feeling, hearing
Let your child listen to children's records and tapes
Praise your child's efforts to communicate
Between 2-3 years
Identifies body parts
Carries on 'conversation' with self and dolls
Asks "what's that?" And "where's my?"
May say "no" when means "yes"
Talks to other children as well as adults
Solves problems by talking instead of hitting or crying
Answers "where" questions
Names common pictures and things
Uses short sentences
Matches 3-4 colors, knows big and little
Activities to encourage your child's language
Repeat new words over and over
Help your child listen and follow instructions by playing games: "pick up the ball, " "Touch baba's nose"
Take your child on trips and talk about what you see before, during and after the trip
Carry on conversations with the child, preferably when the two of you have some quiet time together
Ask questions to get your child to think and talk
Show the child you understand what he or she says by answering, smiling, and nodding your head
Expand what the; child says. If he or she says, "more juice", You say, "mama wants more juice."
Between 3-4 years
Can tell a story
Has a sentence length of 4-5 words
Has a vocabulary of nearly 1000 words
Names at least one color
Understands "yesterday," "summer", "lunchtime", "tonight", "little-big"
Begins to obey requests like "put the block under the chair"
Knows his or her last name, name of street on which he/she lives and several nursery rhymes
Activities to encourage your child's language
Talk about how objects are the same or different
Help your child to tell stories using books and pictures
Let your child play with other children
Read longer stories to your child
Pay attention to your child when he's talking
Talk about places you've been or will be going
Between 4-5 years
Has sentence length of 4-5 words
Uses past tense correctly
Has a vocabulary of nearly 1500 words
Points to colors red, blue, yellow and green
Identifies triangles, circles and squares
Understands "In the morning" , "next", "noontime"
Can speak of imaginary conditions such as "I hope"
Asks many questions, asks "who?" And "why?"
Activities to encourage your child's language
Help your child sort objects and things (ex. things you eat, animals)
Teach your child how to use the telephone
Let your child help you plan activities such as what you will make for Thanksgiving dinner
Continue talking with him about his interest
Read longer stories to him
Let her tell and make up stories for you
Show your pleasure when she comes to talk with you
Between 5-6 years
Has a sentence length of 5-6 words
Has a vocabulary of around 2000 words
Defines objects by their use (you eat with a fork) and can tell what objects are
BDST: 1744 HRS, MAR- 21, 2016
Edited by: Sharmina Islam, Lifestyle Editor
