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Evaluations, screenings, and therapy are available for preschool aged children (and older
children).
This chart is a helpful reference for monitoring your child's development.
Please call us at (714) 904-1069 if you have questions about your child's speech and language development.
Your Childs Speech and Language Development 2-5 Years
| Child's Age |
Understanding of Language |
Talking |
Other Aspects of Development |
| 2-3 Years |
Understands action in pictures
Recognizes names of smaller
body parts (e.g., chin, knee)
Identifies big and little
Understands basic spatial
and quantity concepts |
Uses 2-4 word combinations
Says first and last name
Talks about events
Uses commands, and
pronouns I, me, mine, you
Speech is understood by
others 70-80% of the time |
Walks up stairs with minimal or no support
Can walk backward, sideways or on a line
Jumps forward, up in the air, or down a stair
Kicks, catches, or throws a ball |
3-4 Years
|
Child answers simple who,
what, where, why questions
Child understands spoken
directions without gestures
Child knows 8-15 body parts
Follows two-step directions
involving two actions
Matches objects by color
Identifies objects by function
(e.g., you write with it pencil)
Understands spatial concepts (e.g., front, back)
Understands concepts of
texture (e.g., hard/soft) |
Talks about the day at school
Says most sounds correctly except l, r, th, s
Talks easily without repeating
syllables/words
Usually understood by
other adults or children
Frequently uses 4 or more
words in sentences
Initiates conversations
Responds to what others say
Names actions and answers
questions
Uses plurals and pronouns |
Stands on one foot briefly
Learning to hop
Can catch/throw a ball
Can pedal a tricycle
Can imitate a circle and a
cross with a pencil
Colors and shares toys
Can hold paper, scissors,
and cut forward on a line
Works simple puzzles
Eats with a spoon and fork
Matches 2-3 primary colors
Child stays dry through the day and often through the night |
| 4-4? Years |
Child sorts objects by shape
Understands more position,
quantity (e.g., more, less,
equal), and sensory (e.g.,
pretty, sour) concepts
Understands time concepts
Enjoys listening to stories |
Voice sounds clear, not froggy
Uses sentences with details
Tells stories and stays
closely to the topic
Uses appropriate word
order, past tense,contractions,
and possessives in sentences
Follows three-step directions |
Hops, skips, climbs, dances,
and plays simple ball games
Follows a sequence of
motor directions
Imitates a square, rectangle
Learning to color within
the lines and to trace lines
Cuts out simple shapes |
| 4? to 5 Years |
Hears and understands most
of what is said at home/school
Listens to a story & answers
basic questions about it
Child can answer questions
about yesterday, tomorrow
Answers how questions
Understands time, weather,
and same/different concepts
Child can sort by size
Learning to sequence events |
Communicates easily with others
Says all sounds correctly
except one or two
Uses the same grammar as
adults
Uses 5-6 word sentences
Answers questions about
present, past, and future
Gives full name, age,
birthday, and address |
Gets dressed independently
Begins to ride a bicycle
with training wheels
Prints several letters
Draws simple people with
3-4 body parts
Copies two shapes
Colors within the lines
Works puzzles with 6-12
pieces |
Sources: Parent Letters; Growing Child; Janna L.Hacker M.S., CCC-SLP; Making
Everyday Living a Meaningful Language Experience.
Note: These stages are guidelines for approximate ages of acquisition of skills.
Compliments of: Speech Cat Therapy
Speech-Language Pathology Services
speechcat@dslextreme.com
(714) 904-1069
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