Where do we get our information?
Our approach is built on a solid foundation of 30 years of clinical experience, enriched by the latest evidence-based guidelines. We utilize resources from:
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): For comprehensive tracking of developmental milestones across all areas—physical, language, social-emotional, and sensory.
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The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA): For specialized expertise in communication development, including early communication promotion, age-appropriate milestones, and strategies for speech and language growth.
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This combination ensures we offer accurate, up-to-date information to help you understand and support your child's development.
Birth - 3 Months Old
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Responds to Sounds: Startles/quiets to sounds, turns towards them.
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Makes Sounds: Coos and gurgles. May vary sounds with emotions.
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Reciprocal Communication: Engages in back-and-forth vocalizations.
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Recognizes Voices/Faces: Responds to familiar voices and smiles at familiar faces.
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Focuses on Faces: Pays attention to faces during interactions.
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Nonverbal Communication: Uses body language, expressions, and cries.
4 - 6 Months
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More Vocal: Experiments with vowel-consonant sounds ("agoo," "da").
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Laughs & Giggles: Shows joy and social engagement.
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Responds to Faces: Understands emotional expressions.
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Reacts to Sounds: Shows interest in sound-making toys.
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Vocalizes During Play: Makes sounds while playing, especially with objects.
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Follows Objects: Tracks objects with their eyes.
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Blows Raspberries: Strengthens oral muscles for speech.
7 - 12 Months
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Complex Babbling: Babbling becomes more varied and complex, including vowel-consonant combinations like "mama" and "dada."
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Imitates Sounds: Babies mimic sounds they hear, a key step toward talking.
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Understands Simple Words: Comprehends words like "no," "bye-bye," and their name.
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Uses Gestures: Waves, shakes head, points to communicate.
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Combines Gestures & Sounds: Points and says "ba" for a ball, for example.
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Social Communication: Babbles to get attention and engages in back-and-forth exchanges.
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First Words: Says simple words like "mama," "dada," "ball," or "dog."
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Varied Sounds & Intonation: Experiments with a range of sounds and varies babbling's rhythm.
1 - 2 Years
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Understands Simple Directions: Follows one-step directions (e.g., "Give me the ball").
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Answers "Where" Questions: Looks around when asked "Where's your blanket?"
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Points to Communicate: Points to request, comment, or ask.
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Uses Gestures: Shakes head for "no," nods for "yes," claps, waves.
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Growing Vocabulary: Uses words for common objects, actions, and people.
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Identifies Body Parts: Names at least one body part.
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Combines Sounds & Words: Uses jargon and mixes sounds, syllables, and words.
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Expresses Emotions: Uses gestures for excitement and silliness.
2 - 3 Years
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Uses Phrases/Sentences: Combines words, may repeat some.
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Seeks Attention: Says things like "Look at me!"
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Knows Name: Says their name when asked.
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Uses Plurals: Starts using plural forms of words.
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Uses -ing & -ed: Uses present progressive verbs (eating, running) and past tense (looked, played).
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Gives Reasons: Explains why they need things (e.g., "cold outside, coat").
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Asks Questions: Asks "why" and "how" questions.
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Answers Questions: Answers simple questions (e.g., "What do you do when sleepy?").
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Clearer Speech: Speech is becoming more intelligible, uses p, b, m, h, w, d, and n correctly, and most vowels, but may still be difficult for unfamiliar listeners.
3 - 4 Years
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Compares Objects: Uses comparative words like "smaller" and "faster."
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Retells Stories: Can tell a story from a book or video.
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Understands Location Words: Uses words like "inside," "on," and "under."
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Uses Articles: Uses "a" and "the" correctly.
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Pretend Reading/Writing: Pretends to read and write, can write some letters.
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Recognizes Symbols: Recognizes signs and logos (e.g., STOP).
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Clear Speech: Speaks smoothly, few repetitions. Understood by most.
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Pronunciation: Produces t, k, g, f, y, and -ing correctly. Says all syllables in words. Says beginning, middle, and end sounds in words. May still have trouble with later-developing sounds (l, j, r, sh, ch, s, v, z, th) and some consonant clusters (e.g., "splash").
4 - 5 Years
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Complex Sentences: Uses grammatically correct, longer, more complex sentences.
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Tells Stories: Includes characters, settings, and connecting words to tell stories.
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Uses Irregular Plurals: Uses some irregular plurals (e.g., "feet," "men").
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Understands Location: Uses location words (e.g., "behind," "beside," "between").
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Uses Time Words: Uses time words (e.g.,"tomorrow").
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Follows Game Rules: Follows simple directions and rules.
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Book Awareness: Locates book front and title.
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Letter Recognition/Writing: Recognizes and names 10+ letters, can write name.
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Reading/Writing Directionality: Imitates left-to-right reading and writing.
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Sound Blending/Rhyming: Blends word parts (cup + cake = cupcake), identifies rhymes.
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Clear Speech: Produces most consonants correctly, speech is understandable.
Definitions
Language
A method of human communication; a formal system of signs and symbols that is used to carry information; does not have to be spoken; socially shared set of rules; including the meanings of words.
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Expressive language
The ability to share thoughts, feelings, needs or ideas using a formal system.
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Receptive language
Understanding the thoughts, feelings, ideas and needs of others using a formal system.
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Speech
The physical production of words; the verbal means of communicating; the ability to talk; pronunciation of words and sentences.
Unoccupied Play
(0 - 3 months)​
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Babies or young children exploring materials around them without any sort of organization
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It allows newborns to identify their legs, hands, arms, and feet
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This is their first attempt to learn about their world​
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Onlooker Play
(2 years)​
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Child begins to watch and observe other children play but does not play with them
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Watching other children play at a distance
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Children suggest possible solutions to other children but not actively joining in on their play​
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Associative Play
​(3 - 4 years)
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When a child starts to interact with others during play
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The child will play on the playground equipment but all doing different activities like climbing, swinging or sliding
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Types of Play
​Independent/Solitary Play
​(0 - 2 years)
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When a child starts to play alone
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Looking at colorful pictures in board books
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Sorting and stacking cups
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Playing under the play gym
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Playing with blocks​​
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Parallel Play
​(2+ years)
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When a child plays alongside or near other children but not with them
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The child playing in the same area but not necessarily with the same toy​
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Cooperative Play
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When children play together with shared goals
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Playing store, restaurant, doctor visit
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Putting on a stage show
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Potential
Signs of Communication Challenges
Learn more from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)
​Language Development​
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Early Infancy:
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Limited smiling or interaction with others (birth and older)
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Absence of babbling (4–6 months)
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Minimal use of sounds or gestures, such as reaching (7–9 months)
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Toddler and Preschool Years:
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Lack of understanding of spoken language (10 months – 2 years)
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Limited vocabulary (19 months – 2 years)
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Failure to combine words into sentences (19 months – 3 years)
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Speech that is difficult for others to understand (3–4 years)
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Early School Years:
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Difficulties with pre-reading skills, such as pretend reading or recognizing book orientation (4–5 years)
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Speech Sound Production
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Early Childhood:
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Inconsistent pronunciation of sounds like p, b, m, h, and w (2–3 years)
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Inconsistent pronunciation of sounds like k, g, f, t, d, and n (3–4 years)
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Speech that is consistently unclear, even to familiar listeners (2–3 years)
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Fluency
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Repetitive first sounds of words (e.g., "b-b-b-ball")
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Prolonged or stretched sounds within words (e.g., "ffffff-farm")
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Visible frustration during attempts to speak
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Voice Quality
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Frequent or persistent loss of voice
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Consistent hoarseness or breathiness in voice
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Audible strain or effort during speech
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