Developmental Milestones {Parent Resources}

Developmental milestones are the specific skills related to communication, fine motor, gross motor, cognitive (e.g. thinking), and self help (e.g. feeding/dressing) that children acquire as they grow and learn.  A child's genetics and environment will play a role in the rate and extent of a child's development. Early intervention is critical if a parent or caregiver notices that certain skills are not present by a certain age. However, these milestones are a guideline and does not confirm that your child has a speech-language disorder if a skill is not yet developed. The American Speech-Language Hearing Association provides an excellent overview of typical speech-language development for children from birth-age 5:  

What should my child be able to do?

Hearing and Understanding	Talking
Birth–3 Months Startles to loud sounds Quiets or smiles when spoken to Seems to recognize your voice and quiets if crying Increases or decreases sucking behavior in response to sound	Birth–3 Months Makes pleasure sounds (cooing, gooing) Cries differently for different needs Smiles when sees you
4–6 Months Moves eyes in direction of sounds Responds to changes in tone of your voice Notices toys that make sounds Pays attention to music	4–6 Months Babbling sounds more speech-like with many different sounds, including p, b and m Chuckles and laughs Vocalizes excitement and displeasure Makes gurgling sounds when left alone and when playing with you
7 Months–1 Year Enjoys games like peek-a-boo and pat-a-cake Turns and looks in direction of sounds Listens when spoken to Recognizes words for common items like "cup", "shoe", "book", or "juice" Begins to respond to requests (e.g. "Come here" or "Want more?")	7 Months–1 Year Babbling has both long and short groups of sounds such as "tata upup bibibibi" Uses speech or noncrying sounds to get and keep attention Uses gestures to communicate (waving, holding arms to be picked up) Imitates different speech sounds Has one or two words (hi, dog, dada, mama) around first birthday, although sounds may not be clear

1 year- 2 years of age

Hearing and Understanding	Talking
Points to a few body parts when asked. Follows simple commands and understands simple questions ("Roll the ball," "Kiss the baby," "Where's your shoe?"). Listens to simple stories, songs, and rhymes. Points to pictures in a book when named.	Says more words every month. Uses some one- or two- word questions ("Where kitty?" "Go bye-bye?" "What's that?"). Puts two words together ("more cookie," "no juice," "mommy book"). Uses many different consonant sounds at the beginning of words.

2 years-3 years of age

Hearing and Understanding	Talking
Understands differences in meaning ("go-stop," "in-on," "big-little," "up-down"). Follows two requests ("Get the book and put it on the table"). Listens to and enjoys hearing stories for longer periods of time	Has a word for almost everything. Uses two- or three- words to talk about and ask for things. Uses k, g, f, t, d, and n sounds. Speech is understood by familiar listeners most of the time. Often asks for or directs attention to objects by naming them. Asks why? May stutter on words or sounds

3 years - 4  years of age

Hearing and Understanding

Talking

Hears you when you call from another room. Hears television or radio at the same loudness level as other family members. Understands words for some colors, like red, blue, and green Understands words for some shapes, like circle and square Understands words for family, like brother, grandmother, and aunt

Talks about activities at school or at friends' homes. Talks about what happened during the day. Uses about 4 sentences at a time. People outside of the family usually understand child's speech. Answers simple "who?", "what?", and "where?" questions. Asks when and how questions. Says rhyming words, like hat-cat Uses pronouns, like I, you, me, we, and they Uses some plural words, like toys, birds, and buses Uses a lot of sentences that have 4 or more words. Usually talks easily without repeating syllables or words.

4 years- 5 years of age

Hearing and Understanding

Talking

Understands words for order, like first, next, and last. Understands words for time, like yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Follows longer directions, like "Put your pajamas on, brush your teeth, and then pick out a book." Follows classroom directions, like "Draw a circle on your paper around something you eat." Hears and understands most of what is said at home and in school.

Says all speech sounds in words. May make mistakes on sounds that are harder to say, like l, s, r, v, z, ch, sh, th. Responds to "What did you say?" Talks without repeating sounds or words most of the time. Names letters and numbers. Uses sentences that have more than 1 action word, like jump, play, and get. May make some mistakes, like "Zach got 2 video games, but I got one." Tells a short story. Keeps a conversation going. Takes in different ways depending on the listener and place. May use short sentences with younger children or talk louder outside than inside.

For more information about children's typical speech-language development during elementary school age, check out this link:
 http://www.asha.org/public/speech/development/communicationdevelopment/

For more information about children's typical motor, social-emotional, sensory, and cognitive thinking skills see information provided by the American Academy of Pediatrics :  
http://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/Pages/default.aspx