Milestones and Tips

• They coo and make gurgling sounds.
• They turn their heads toward sounds.

• They begin to babble.
• They babble with expression and copy sounds they hear.
• They cry in different ways to show they're hungry, tired, or in pain.
• They respond to sounds by making sounds.

• They string vowels together when babbling ("ah," "eh," "oh") and enjoy taking turns with a parent while making sounds.
• They respond to their own name.
• They make sounds to show joy and displeasure.
• They begin to say consonant sounds (jabbering with "m" or "b").
• They understand "no."
• They make a lot of different sounds, such as "mamamama" and "babababa."

• They copy sounds and gestures of others.
• They use fingers to point at things.
• They respond to simple spoken requests.
• They use simple gestures like shaking their head "no" or waving "bye-bye."
• They make sounds with changes in tone (sounds more like speech).

• They say "mama" and "dada" and exclamations like "uh-oh."
• They try to say words that others say.

• They say several single words.
• They say and shake their head "no."
• They point to show someone what they want.

• They point to things or pictures that are named.
• They know names of familiar people and body parts.
• They say sentences with two to four words.
• They follow simple instructions.
• They repeat words overheard in conversation.
• They point to things in a book.

Two- to three-year-old children have similar milestones. 

• They follow instructions of two or three steps.
• They name most familiar things.
• They understand words like "in," "on," and "under."
• They say their first name, age, and sex.
• They name a friend.
• They talk well enough for strangers to understand them most of the time.
• They say words like "I," "me," "we," and "you" and some plurals (cars, dogs, cats).
• They carry on a conversation using two to three sentences.

Four-year-old children are energetic and imaginative. They learn new words quickly and will use them!

• They climb and jump.
• They do self-care activities, such as feeding, brushing teeth, and unbuttoning clothing. 
• They ask and answer who, what, when, where, and why questions.
• They continue an activity for 10–15 minutes.
• They recognizes some letters and words.
• They speak fairly complex sentences, such as "The baby ate the cookie before I could put it on the table."
• They like to talk and sing simple songs.
• They enjoy showing off.
• They like taking turns and sharing, but they may get bossy.

Five-year-old children are enthusiastic and energetic. They enjoy planning and discussing who will do what. A "best friend" is very important but hard to keep, as social skills are not fully developed yet.

• They lose baby teeth.
• They use a fork and spoon well.
• They have a stronger memory with the ability to memorize their address and their favorite stories.
• They have an expanding vocabulary.
• They play board and card games and play with blocks and puzzles (12–15 pieces).
• They enjoy telling stories and jokes.
• They understand and respect rules, and they often ask for permission.
• They like to try new things.

Your baby listens to your voice. They coo and gurgle and try to make the same sounds you make. You can help your baby learn how nice voices can be.

• Sing to your baby. You can do this even before they are born! Your baby will hear you.
• Talk to your baby. Talk to others when they are near. Your baby won't understand the words, but they will like your voice and your smile. They will enjoy hearing and seeing other people, too.
• Plan for quiet time. Babies need time to babble and play quietly without TV or music or other noises.

Your baby is learning how people talk to each other. 

• Hold your baby close so they will look you in your eyes. Talk to them and smile.
• When your baby babbles, imitate the sounds.
• If your baby tries to make the same sound you do, say the word again.

Typically, a baby will play with sounds that sound like words, such as "baba" or "dada,” or a baby will smile when hearing a happy voice and cry or look unhappy when hearing an angry voice. You can help your baby understand words (even if they can’t say anything yet).

• Play games like peek-a-boo or pat-a-cake. Help them move their hands along with the rhyme.
• Give them a toy and say something about it, such as "Feel how fuzzy Teddy Bear is."
• Let them see themself in a mirror and ask, "Who's that?" If they don't respond, say their name.
• Ask your baby questions like "Where's doggie?" If they don’t answer, show them where.

Your baby will begin to understand simple words. If someone asks where you are, your child will look for you. They will point, make sounds, and use their body to “tell” you what they want. For example, they may look up at you and lift their arms up to show you they want to be picked up, or they may hand you a toy to let you know they want to play. You can continue their language development just by narrating what is happening when you’re together.

• Regularly name things your baby looks at or points to. When doing common tasks like changing their diaper or dressing them, tell them what is happening and what you will do next.
• Demonstrate how cause- and-effect works by letting your baby ring the doorbell or turn on the light switch.
• Give your baby lots of time and a safe space to practice new skills, such as crawling.
• Be sure to say goodbye to your baby so they learn to build trust in you. Help them “talk” with you by showing them how to wave “bye-bye.” 

Babies begin to use words, which includes using the same sounds consistently to identify an object, such as "baba" for bottle or "juju" for juice. Many babies have one or two words and understand 25 or more. A baby will give you a toy if you ask for it. Even without words, a baby can ask you for something by pointing, reaching for it, or looking at it and babbling. You can help your child develop language, especially by asking questions.

• Talk about things your child uses regularly, like "cup," "juice," or "bib." Prompt your child to name these items.
• Ask your child questions about pictures in books. Give your child time to name things in the pictures.
• Smile or clap your hands when your child names the things that they see. Say something about it: "You see the doggie. He's sooo big! Look at his tail wag."
• Talk about what your child wants most to talk about. Set aside time for them to tell you all about it.
• Ask about things you do each day: "Which shirt will you pick today?" "Do you want milk or juice?"
• Build on what your child says. If they say "car," you can say, "That's your big, red car."
• Introduce pretend play with your child's favorite doll or stuffed animal. Include it in your conversations and your play: "Rover wants to play, too. Can he roll the ball with us?"

At this age, your child is using more complex gestures to communicate with you and is continuing to build their vocabulary. They may take your hand, walk you to the bookshelf, point to a book, and say “buk” to say, “I want to read a book with you.”

• Tell your child, "Show me your nose," then point to your nose. They will soon point to their nose. Do this with toes, fingers, ears, eyes, knees, and so on.
• Hide a toy while your child is watching. Help them find it and share in their delight.
• When your child points at or gives you something, talk about the object with them. "You gave me the book. Thank you! Look at the picture of the baby rolling the ball."

Your child will be able to follow directions and begin to put words together, such as “car go” or “want juice.” They will also begin to do pretend play, which fosters language development. You can spur your child’s communication skills as you encourage them to be more involved.

• Ask your child to help you. For example, ask them to put their cup on the table or to bring you their shoe.
• Teach your child simple songs and nursery rhymes. Read to your child. Ask them to point to and tell you what they see.
• Give your child opportunities to talk with friends and family. They can tell others about a new toy, favorite book, or fun experience.
• Engage your child in pretend play. You can talk on a play phone, feed dolls, or have a party with stuffed animals.

Your child's language skills will grow by leaps and bounds. They will string more words together to create simple sentences like "Mommy go bye-bye." They will be able to answer simple questions, such as "Where is your bear?" By 36 months, they will be able to answer more complicated questions, such as "What do you do when you are hungry?" They will do more and more pretend play, acting out imaginary scenes like going to work, fixing the toy car, or taking care of their "family" (of dolls or animals). You can help your child put new words together and teach them things that are important to know.

• Teach your child to say their first and last name.
• Ask about the number, size, and shape of the things your child shows you.
• Ask open-ended questions that don't have a "yes" or "no" answer. This helps your child develop their own ideas and learn to express them. If it's about worms, you could say, "What fat, wiggly worms! How many are there? Where are they going?" Wait, watch, and listen to the answer. You can suggest an answer if needed: "I see five. Are they going to the park or to the store?"
• Ask your child to tell you the story that goes with a favorite book. "What happened to those three pigs?" Reading spurs language development, so take your child to storytime at your local library. Your toddler will enjoy sharing books with you as well as with their peers.
• Do lots of pretend play. Acting out stories and roleplaying create rich opportunities for using and learning language.
• Don't forget what worked earlier. For example, your child still needs quiet time. This is not just for naps. Turn off the TV or tablet and let your child do quiet playing, singing, and talking with you.

Four-year-old children have a strong need to feel important and appreciated—so notice their accomplishments!

• Set up opportunities for children to do routine activities independently and to make choices.
• Encourage physical development by including gross motor activities—like jumping, climbing, catching, or dancing—in your daily plans.
• Read aloud every day and encourage your child to help in retelling the story.

• Ask "what if" questions and explain why and how things happen.
• Ask your child to tell you a story.
• Have playdates with other children and teach your child how to share, request, negotiate, and apologize.
• Help your child understand and cope with strong feelings by giving them words to use when they are angry.
• Involve your child in writing notes, letters, and cards.