Preschoolers often experience a “language explosion” and start to develop language skills at a more accelerated pace! Here are some guidelines as to what is expected of your preschooler’s language skills.
2 years old
- Able to say 50 words or more
- Says full name on request
- Names 5 or more pictures
- Knows 6 or more body parts
- Obeys 2-part commands
- Uses 3-word sentences
3 Years Old
- Able to say 300 words or more
- Says m, n, h, w, p, and b sounds in words
- Sequences a 3-picture story
- Understands some words for colors, shapes, and family members
- Asks when & how questions
- Talks about what happened during the day
- Uses 4 to 6 words in a sentence
- Uses about 4 sentences at a time
4 Years Old
- Can carry out 4-part related commands
- Says t, d, k, g, and y sounds in words
- Can repeat what happened in a story
- Most people understand their speech
- Understands some prepositions (above, below, in front, etc.)
- Understands some words for order (first, next, last) and time (tomorrow, today, etc.)
- Uses multi-word simple sentences
5 Years Old
- Identifies initial sounds of words
- Uses irregular plurals
- Says f, ch, and sh sounds in words Identifies words that rhyme
- Names objects parts and gives function of object
- Able to retell a story and describe something they did
- Keeps a conversation going
Tips to Promote Development
Talk to your Child
Studies have shown that the number of words a child hears during their early years has a significant impact on their development of language. Narrating what you see while on a car ride or on a walk, family dinner conversations, and reading to your child are all ways to expose your child to more language.
Expanding Sentences
When your child says a word or short phrase, help them take it a step further by using the word or phrase in a sentence. For example, if your child points and says, “Dog!” respond with “Yes, the dog is sleeping!” If your child is already using sentences, respond with adding more detail and complexity.
Play Language Games
Play games like “I Spy” where you describe something you see and have your child guess what it is. You can also list several words such as bus, train, apple, and car, and have your child find which doesn’t belong. You can practice naming objects that start with a certain letter. These are fun, easy activities that can be played while in the car or waiting at a restaurant.
Improving Sound Production
If your child has difficulty saying particular sounds, emphasize the correct sound in your own speech. If they say the sound incorrectly, don’t ask them to repeat it. Instead, you repeat the word correctly and say the troublesome word louder and longer.
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