Language Milestones: Birth to Five Years
Each child gains the ability to speak gradually. From the time they born they listen , make sounds, and slowly start using words. As they get older, they learn to get stories and talk in complete sentences. This page shows how children's language grows from birth to five years and families can support their learning.
Birth to 12 Months
Babies hear sounds and voices. They coo, smile and make tiny sounds. They begin mimic noises they hear and babble (Owens, 2020).
1 to 2 Years
Children start to say their first real words. they try to identify the items they want by pointing to them. they follow simple instructions like "come here". They can combine two words together like "more milk", "mummy go"(Buzhardt et al., 2019).
2 to 3 Years
Children use short sentences. They name things around them like toys. people, animals. They ask simple questions like "what's that". They understand more words and follow two steps instructions (Hansen & Broekhuizen, 2021).
3 to 5 Years
Children speak in longer sentences. They tell small stories and talk about their day. They use more grammar, like “I am playing” or “she is running”. They understand simple conversations and join in (Eadie et al., 2021).
Language grows every day through play, talk, and shared experiences. Families help children learn by listening, responding, and encouraging conversation. Explore the next page for Practical Strategies to support your child’s communication at home.
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