Typical Speech, Language and Communication Development

Developmental Stages

Below is a summary of what you might expect with your child's speech, language and communication at different ages. All children are unique and learn in different ways and at different paces, so don't worry if your child takes a little longer to pick something up. If you are worried about your child's speech, language or communication development, find out what to do here. 

0-6 months

At this age your child might:
  • Respond to voices
  • Gurgle, coo and squeal
  • Smile back when smiled at
  • Look at parent's faces when they talk
  • Begin making extended vowel sounds, like 'ah'
  • Start to laugh
  • Have different cries for babies needs
  • Babble (like 'ba-ba')
  • Try to mimic sounds

6 months+

At this age your child might:
  • Babble for attention
  • Laugh or squeal
  • Be able to wave 'bye bye'
  • Enjoy games like peek-a-boo
  • Begin to recognise names of family members
  • Recognise mum's voice
  • Explore objects, shake them or put them into their mouth

12 months+

At this age your child might:
  • Understand very simple commands like 'no', or 'clap your hands'
  • Develop first words
  • Know their own name
  • Relate some objects, such as putting a spoon in a cup

18 months+

At this age your child might:
  • Understand action words like 'sit down', 'drink' or 'come here'
  • Copy frequently heard short sentences
  • Copy sounds of objects like cars or animals
  • Name objects like ball, cup or sock
  • Follow simple instructions like 'give me the ball'
  • By 2 1/2 year, use 3-4 words in a sentence
 

3+ years

At this age your child might:
  • Identify colours
  • Describe an object
  • Uses many pronouns like I, he, she or we
  • Understand describing words like big, wet or small
  • Answer questions logically Use 4-5 words or longer in a sentence
  • Understand the use of objects

4+ years

At this age your child might:
  • Respond to 'why' questions
  • Describe an activity like making a sandwich or getting dressed
  • Name members of a category, like 'name a fruit'
  • Indicate body parts such as head, knee or leg
  • Compare objects
  • Understand complex instructions like 'put the small cup under the chair
  • Understand time concepts like yesterday, tomorrow or last week