Toddler Milestones

Communication

What might my toddler do?

Understanding language is far more important to your toddler than actually speaking it. Once they really understand, they will begin communicating with you. Your toddler’s first words are almost always labels (ie: names for people, animals) or other things that are important to them.

As a toddler, your child will have a language explosion – they will understand more than they say, but they will imitate everything they hear, learn new words every day, start putting words together into short sentences and want to talk to you all the time!

The following are guidelines, taken from a number of sources. They will help you know what to expect and encourage with your child’s language development, or when to consider a referral to a speech language therapist. It does not include everything and it is important to remember that there is variation in children’s language development.

Milestones for your toddler at 12-18 months:

Recognizes their name
Understands “no”
Understands simple instructions
Points and gestures to call attention to an event or to show what they want
Imitates (copies) familiar words
Waves good-bye and plays Pat-a-Cake
Uses “mama” and “dada” and several other words, usually names of objects or people
Attempts to communicate by mixing jargon with real words (e.g. babbling that sounds like real words)

Vocalizes for enjoyment
Points to show you something
Points to a few body parts when asked, ie: “Where’s your mouth?”
Imitates animal sounds
Begins to show sense of humour
Plays best on their own; doesn’t want to share toys with others, shouting “mine, mine!”

Red Flags:

If your 12-18 month old toddler shows 2 or more of the following, make a referral to a speech-language therapist to ensure your child is not having difficulties with developing communication skills:

Does not respond consistently to being called by their name
Does not respond to familiar sounds (phone ringing)
Does not look at or point to objects and pictures when named
Does not show or give objects spontaneously

Does not start a turn taking game (i.e. lifts up their blanket for peek-a-boo)
Does not direct others' attention to something by pointing or making eye contact
Does not use consonant + vowel combinations that others recognize as words, even if they are mispronounced
Has fewer than 10 words

Milestones for your toddler at 18-24 months (1½ - 2 years):

Uses 10 - 20 different words
Starts to combine 2 words (e.g. baby sleep)
Uses words to make needs and wants known, like "more", "up", "juice"
Imitates sounds and words more clearly
Points to objects and/or uses gestures to show or direct attention to something

Points to own toes, eyes and nose
Brings an object from another room when asked (follows 1-part directions)
Sings simple songs
Mixes real words and jargon
Practices words over and over on thier own (e.g. while playing in their bed etc.)

Red Flags:

If your 18-24 month old toddler shows 2 or more of the following, make a referral to a speech-language therapist to insure your child is not having difficulties with developing communication skills:

Does not understand verbal instructions without needing gestures
Does not copy (imitate) words frequently
Does not sit for 5 minutes of book reading

Does not add gestures if their words are not understood by others
Does not say at least 20 - 50 words
Does not say a few 2 - word or 3 - word combinations

Milestones for your toddler at 24-30 months (2 - 2 ½ years):

Understands simple questions and commands
Identifies main body parts
Carries on “conversation” with self and dolls
Asks “what’s this?”, “what’s that?”, and “where’s my…”
Sentence length of 2–3 words ( ie: “more juice” or “want cookie”)
Names pictures and actions

Refers to self by name
Uses 2 – word negative phrases such as “no want”, “not go” or “no right”
Forms some plurals by adding “s” (e.g. books)
Asks for a drink or snack
Has about 200 spoken words in their vocabulary

Red Flags:

If your 24-30 month old toddler shows 2 or more of the following, make a referral to a speech-language therapist to ensure your child is not having difficulties with developing communication skills:

Does not follow verbal instructions without needing gestures
Does not add gestures to help get their meaning across when they have not been understood
Does not understand more complex sentences (When….then)

Frequently “echoes” words
Does not use at least 100 words
Is not saying some 2 and 3- word combinations
Language development seems “stuck”

Milestones for your toddler at 30-36 months (2 ½ - 3 years):

Uses about 450 words
Can give first name when asked
Uses past tense (e.g. "ed" endings) and plurals (e.g. "s" endings) (not always correctly)
Combines names of things with action words ie: baby sleep
Understands simple time concepts such as “last night” and “tomorrow”
Refers to self as “me” or "I" instead of by name
Uses their words to get adult attention ie: "watch me!"

Likes to hear the same story over and over
Uses “no” or “not” in their speech
Talks to other children as well as adults
Answers “where” questions
Uses short sentences to tell what he/she has just done or wants to do ie: “me do it” or “me want to jump”
Matches 3-4 colors
Knows the words “big” and “little”
Holds up fingers to tell age

Red Flags:

If your 30-36 month old toddler shows 2 or more of the following, make a referral to a speech-language therapist to ensure your child is not having difficulties with developing communication skills:

Vocabulary does not seem to be growing
Not interested in talking with or playing with adults or other children
Doesn't show any pretend play skills (e.g. feeding a doll)
Not putting words into 2-3 word sentences
Not matching colors or pictures

Cannot give their name when asked
Does not understand the concept of big / little
Does not use “no” to reject something or protest
Not using words to get an adult’s attention

If you have concerns about your child at any age, please feel free to contact us. You can also make a referral to our centre at anytime.

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Communication

What might my toddler do?

Milestones for your toddler at 12-18 months:

Red Flags:

Milestones for your toddler at 18-24 months (1½ - 2 years):

Red Flags:

Milestones for your toddler at 24-30 months (2 - 2 ½ years):

Red Flags:

Milestones for your toddler at 30-36 months (2 ½ - 3 years):

Red Flags:

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