Talking &
Understanding
How does your child communicate, understand language, and find their voice. Long before your child says their first word, they are communicating. And long after they start talking, they are still working hard to understand. Language development is one of the most remarkable things you’ll witness in your child’s early years, and your voice, your stories, and your conversations are the most powerful tools behind it.
Infants: Birth to 1 Year
Babies start communicating from the very first day they are born, long before they say their first word.
Your baby uses cries, coos, and body movements to tell you what they need. By around 3 months, many babies begin to “talk back”, cooing and making sounds in response to your voice. These back-and-forth moments are your baby’s first conversations, and they matter more than you might think.
Your baby is becoming a real communicator. They take turns making sounds with you, blow raspberries, squeal, and use sounds to express how they’re feeling. They turn toward sounds and begin reliably responding to their own name. Even though they’re not talking yet, their brain is working hard, soaking in every word they hear and tuning in to the rhythms of your language.
Your babies babbling is picking up making many different sounds. Your baby is also getting better at using gestures, like raising theirs arms to say “pick me up”. They use sounds and movements together to get their message across.
Your baby loves the back-and-forth of conversation, even without real words. They may wave “bye-bye”, begin calling you “mama” or “dada”, and understand simple words like “no”. They may say one or two words and can follow simple instructions, especially when paired with a gesture.
Something to Notice
Birth to 1 Year
Does your baby turn toward your voice? Respond when you say their name? React to different sounds? Take turns making sounds with you?
Something to Try
Birth to 1 Year
Talk to your baby during diaper changes, meals, and walks. Respond to their coos and babbles like you're having a conversation, because to their growing brain, they did. Your voice is one of the most powerful learning tools they have.
Toddlers: 1 - 3 Years
This is one of the most exciting periods in language development, your child goes from a word or two to full conversations in just a couple of years.
Your child is starting to use words intentionally. They look at familiar objects when you name them, point to ask for things or get help, and follow directions that combine words and gestures. Their understanding is growing faster than their ability to speak, so keep talking even when they can’t respond yet.
Your child is working toward using three or more words and is beginning to follow simple one-step directions without needing a gestures to go along with them. Most children this age are using around eight or more words, and their vocabulary is about to take off.
Language is blooming. Your child is putting two words together, pointing to pictures in books, and identifying body parts. They’re using more gestures beyond just pointing and waving and their vocabulary is growing rapidly. Most of what they say is understandable to people who know them well.
Your child likely has a vocabulary of around 50 words and is combining words with action words. They’re using words like “I”, “me” and “we” and can name things in a book when asked. Conversations are becoming real, even if short.
Your child can hold a back-and-forth conversation with at least two exchanges, ask “who”, “what”, “where” and “why” questions, and talk about what’s happening in a picture or story. They say their first name, speak in three-word sentences, and most of what they say is understandable to people outside your family.
Something to Notice
1 - 3 Years
Is your child adding new words regularly? Putting words together? Following simple directions? Beginning to ask questions?
Something to Try
1- 3 Years
Read together every day, even for just a few minutes. Point to pictures and name them, ask “What’s that?” and let your child answer. Books teach children words they might not hear in conversation.
Preschoolers: 3 - 5 Years
Preschoolers are conversationalists, storytellers, and question-askers, sometimes all at once.
Your child is speaking in sentences of four or more words, answering simple questions, and starting to recall and share things that happened during their day. They can recite words from familiar songs, stories, and nursery rhymes, and they’re getting more skilled at keeping a conversation going. Most of what they say is clear to people who don’t know them well.
Your child is becoming a storyteller. They can answer questions about a book or story, keep a conversation going with more than three exchanges, and are beginning to recognize simple rhymes. They know some letters, can sing the alphabet song, and are building the foundation for reading. By 5, language is a tool your child uses confidently, to connect, to question, to imagine, and to learn.
Something to Notice
3 - 5 Years
Is your child speaking in full sentence? Holding conversations? Asking lots of questions? Beginning to recognize letters or rhymes?
Something to Try
3 - 5 Years
Ask questions! “What was the best part of your day?” or “Tell me something that made you laugh.” These conversations build vocabulary, memory, and the ability to tell a story.
Find Support
Explore these helpful resources to find friendly, expert support in your own community.
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Find Support
Explore these helpful resources to find friendly, expert support in your own community.