Speech and Language Milestones
- Understands “no”
- Uses 10 to 20 words, including names
- Combines two words such as “daddy bye-bye”
- Waves good-bye and plays pat-a-cake
- Makes the “sounds” of familiar animals
- Gives a toy when asked
- Uses words such as “more” to make wants known
- Points to his or her toes, eyes, and nose
- Brings object from another room when asked
Activities to encourage child speech and language development
- Reward and encourage early efforts at saying new words
- Talk about activities you’re doing
- Talk simply, clearly, and slowly
- Talk about new situations before, during and after the activity
- Pay attention / make eye contact while talking and listening
- Play age appropriate music and videos
- Praise efforts to communicate
- Repeat close word approximations back to the child while offering the entire word (i.e. ba = ball)
Speed Development Warning Signs:
Contact Speech Matters, LLC if your child demonstrates difficulty with:
- Responding consistently to their name
- Responding to familiar sounds (phone ringing)
- Looking at or pointing to objects and pictures when named
- Showing or giving objects spontaneously
- Starting a turn taking game (i.e. lifts up their blanket for peek-a-boo)
- Directing others’ attention to something by pointing or making eye contact
- Using consonant + vowel combinations that others recognize as words, (i.e. baba for bottle)
- Having fewer than 10 words