Communication Milestones from birth to 5 years old.
Every giggle, babble, and first word is a big step in your child’s communication journey!
Learning to communicate isn’t just about using words—it’s about connection, confidence, and joy. From the first coos to full sentences, from smiles to crossing arms, every communication intent matters. Whether your child speaks one language, two, if they use ASL (American Sign Language) or a communication device, celebrate their progress and guide them through each playful step toward finding their voice.
Play, Communicate, Grow: Early Communication Milestones
0–12 Months: Foundations of Communication
- Cooing and Babbling: Your baby begins to experiment with sounds, from “ooo” to “ahh.”
- Gestures: Reaching, waving, or pointing are early ways babies communicate needs.
- Recognition of Voices: Babies respond to familiar voices and sounds.
Tip: Respond to every sound and gesture—it shows your baby that communication is meaningful!
1–2 Years: First Words & Connections
- First Words: Simple words like “mama,” “dada,” or favorite objects emerge.
- Two-Word Phrases: Combining words, like “more milk” or “go park.”
- Understanding Instructions: Children begin to follow simple directions.
Tip: Read, talk, and sing often. Label objects, describe actions, and celebrate every new word!
2–3 Years: Expanding Language
- Vocabulary Growth: Children rapidly learn new words, often hundreds in this stage.
- Simple Sentences: “I want cookie” or “Mommy help me.”
- Social Interaction: Using words to express feelings and interact with peers.
Tip: Encourage your child to tell you about their day, their play, or what they see around them.
3–4 Years: Complex Speech & Social Skills
- Longer Sentences: “I went to the park and saw a dog.”
- Grammar & Pronunciation: More accurate speech, though some sounds may still be tricky.
- Conversational Skills: Taking turns, answering questions, and expressing ideas clearly.
Tip: Play pretend games and ask open-ended questions to help children practice conversations.
4–5 Years: Ready for School
- Morphology Skills: Use plural (-s), possessive forms correctly (dogs, the dog’s toy) and past and future verb tenses
- Speech: Produces most speech sounds correctly, though some like /r/, /th/, /s/ blends may still be developing and speech is understood by unfamiliar listeners about 90–100% of the time
- Storytelling: Children can tell short stories or recount events.
- Bilingual Skills (if applicable): Using both languages in context appropriately.
- Functional Communication: Expressing needs, ideas, and emotions confidently with multiword utterances or AAC (Alternative/Augmentative Communication) tools if needed.
Tip: Encourage social play, read together, and celebrate communication successes—big and small!
Communication is a journey and every child’s path is unique.
Celebrate every milestone—whether it’s a first word, a clear sentence, or a new gesture. Play is your child’s first job, and play “plays” a big role in communication, helping children express themselves and connect with the world around them. Communication is more than talking—it’s connection, confidence, and joy. Play fosters the natural development of language, social skills, and self-expression.
Final Thoughts: There’s no rush—every word, gesture, and smile counts. By supporting your child today, we’re building confident communicators for a lifetime of learning, laughter, and connection. If you have concerns about your child’s speech or language development, early support makes a difference. We’re here to help your child develop communication skills, one playful step at a time.
Notes for Parents: Is your child not meeting certain milestones, or do you have questions about their communication development? Schedule a free consultation with our Speech-Language Pathologist—we’re here to guide and support you.
Let’s connect!!! We’d love to hear about your child’s achievements or assist with any concerns you may have.
Photo for inspiration only. Credit to original creator.
References
- American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA).
“Typical Speech and Language Development.”
https://www.asha.org/public/speech/development/chart/- Provides age-based charts for speech, language, and communication skills.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
“Learn the Signs. Act Early.”
https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/milestones/index.html- Lists developmental milestones for communication, social-emotional, motor, and cognitive skills.
- Zero to Three.
“Milestones and Development.”
https://www.zerotothree.org/resources/series/milestones- Focuses on early childhood communication, social, and cognitive development.
- World Health Organization (WHO).
“Care for Child Development: Improving the Psychosocial Development of Children under 3 Years of Age.”
https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/924159134X- Provides global guidance on early developmental milestones, including communication.
- Berk, L. E. (2021).Child Development (10th Edition). Pearson.
- A comprehensive textbook on child development, including language and communication milestones.
End
