Language development: 0 - three years of age

Key points to remember

Introduction

Things babies do before they learn to talk

Developing first words

By the age of two years

By the age of three years

Using language socially

What you can do to help your children learn to listen and talk

Learning through play

When should I seek help?

Where to go for more information or help

Acknowledgements

Your notes

Disclaimer: This fact sheet is for educational use only. Please consult your doctor or other health professional to make sure this information is right for your child.

Key points to remember

communication begins at birth and the sounds that babies make have a purpose and are meaningful
children learn by listening and watching - so talk to your child, sing songs and rhymes, look at books together

You might find it useful to also look at the following related fact sheets on this website:

an introductory fact sheet What's involved in learning to talk?
Speech sound development
Language development: four - five years of age
Encouraging language development
Using language socially - an important skill
Voice
Stuttering / dysfluency

Introduction

Right from birth, babies learn language and communication skills and are able to react to different sounds. They will develop skills to understand language long before they start speaking. Each baby will develop these skills at a different rate, although there is a general pattern of early language development.

Things babies do before they learn to talk

Babies interact with their world by:

crying and squealing
calming to familiar voices or becoming quiet when familiar voices are heard
exploring objects by banging them together, throwing, or mouthing them
copying other people's actions; for example, waving bye-bye
blowing raspberries, to show excitement and pleasure
looking at toys / simple pictures / people with others; this sharing of attention is an important skill
using their faces to communicate; for example, smiling, frowning
listening to sounds and voices and trying to respond or interact
learning to use their voice to communicate
taking turns in making sounds
cooing or using 'coos and goos'
babbling; for example, 'bub-bub-bub' or 'da-da-da'

This is a very important period for communication and language development. These skills need to be encouraged.

Developing first words

Gradually, children begin to develop more meaningful communication by:

using simple words such as 'mama' and 'dada' for their parents
expressing 'yes' or 'no' by nodding or shaking their head
making up words for particular objects; for example, 'dodo' for all animals
starting to recognise and learn names of things they see a lot; for example, bear, car, ball
using simple words to ask for something; for example, 'bobo' for bottle
still babbling but with some real words mixed in
using other words such as 'more' , 'all gone' , 'up'
starting to recognise and name simple body parts; for example, eye, ear, nose
following simple commands such as 'come here', 'sit down', 'get book', 'clap hands', 'wave bye'

By the age of two years

children have between 50 and 200 words that they use regularly
they are starting to put two and three words together to make little sentences; for example, 'more juice', 'daddy go car', 'me up'
children can answer simple questions such as 'what's that?', 'where is doggy?'
children can follow simple instructions with two key words, such as 'put the apple in the bin', 'give the book to daddy', 'get shoes and ball'
they can turn pages in board books and point to or name things they recognise

By the age of three years

children are using longer sentences of up to five words; for example, 'I want to go park mummy'
they can use words like 'and' to link up to sentences, 'I go shops and get icecream'
they understand and talk about colours, simple shapes, sizes and where things go; for example, they understand the difference between 'big' and 'little' and the difference between 'in', 'on', and 'under'
they are able to follow instructions with three key words; for example, 'point to your nose, eyes and tummy', or 'give the big ball to daddy' - when they are paying attention
they can have a very simple conversation
they like to look at books with an adult and are able to point to pictures when asked; they also like to talk about the pictures
they are constantly learning new words

Using language socially

A child's ability to use language socially is an important skill which, just like other parts of language, develops gradually over time.

See Using language socially -an important skill on this website.

What you can do to help your children learn to listen and talk

copy the playful sounds babies make as this will encourage two-way communication
play simple games such as 'peek-a-boo' and tickle games
talk, using short and simple sentences
talk about and point out objects that can be seen and heard; for example, ball, car, plane
sing songs and rhymes together
expand on simple words; for example, the child says 'car'; you say 'push car'
praise attempts to talk; for example, 'good talking!'
smile and show that you are listening
look at books together and talk about the pictures
talk about what is happening when you are with children
talk about what children are doing
make sure children are looking at you, and you at them, when you talk
take children for walks, go to the park and other fun places, and talk about these places to help them learn new words
encourage children to watch television shows that will help them learn. Limit their television watching so you have time during the day to do a variety of things with them

You may also find Encouraging language development on this website useful, including the sections:

Learning through play

You can help your child learn and develop by offering lots of opportunities to play and explore in an environment that is stimulating, safe and secure. Talk as you play to help your child understand and use language. Let your child hear the words that match what they are looking at and thinking about.

When should I seek help?

It is important to remember that:

every child develops at a different rate
there is a wide range of what is considered to be normal in a child's language development

Look at how your child's language compares to typical development, using:

the checklists in this fact sheet (Things babies do before they learn to talk; Developing first words; By the age of two years; By the age of three years)
the Social use of language checklist in Using language socially - an important skill on this website

You can also check another fact sheet on this website:

Speech sound development. Look at how your child's speech compares to typical development, using:
� the speech sound development chart in When do speech sounds develop?
� the descriptions of individual sound errors and patterns of sound changes in What are some of the sound errors a child may make?
� the guide to the approximate level of intelligibility (how much is understood) expected at different ages in When is a child's speech usually understood?

If you are concerned about your child's language development, you should discuss your concerns with the following:

your child's teacher (if attending an early childhood centre or school)
your GP (general practitioner), who should be able to advise you whether your child's language development is appropriate for their age, or whether there is a language development issue or another developmental concern
your Plunket nurse or other Well Child provider (see Where to go for more information below and the Well Child / Tamariki Ora services for under fives fact sheet on this website)

Problems with speech and language development can sometimes be a sign of hearing difficulties. Glue ear can be one of the causes of hearing difficulties. See the following fact sheets on this website:

Glue ear
Well Child / Tamariki Ora services for under fives, including the section on Hearing and vision tests

If your child is still having significant difficulties being understood by familiar adults:

by their third birthday, or
earlier if you are concerned,

or if you think your child does not understand language as well as other children of their age, you should request a referral for a speech assessment by a speech-language therapist.

A speech-language therapist will:

firstly talk with you about your concerns, your child's developmental history, any health issues, any significant events including birth history
assess your child's communication development, in particular the areas that you are concerned about
if required, develop a programme with you which will include strategies that you can use daily with your child, as much as possible within daily routines
monitor and review progress and refer to other services (such as audiology), if required

See Where to go for more information or help about language development below, for information about finding a speech-language therapist.

Where to go for more information or help

On this website (related fact sheets)

An introductory fact sheet What's involved in learning to talk?

Speech sound development

Language development: four to five years of age

Encouraging language development

Using language socially - an important skill

Voice

Stuttering / dysfluency

Much more than words: Monitoring and encouraging communication development in early childhood. (Warning: large pdf file - 60 pages).

Originally written for early childhood professionals, this booklet may be of interest to parents and caregivers who want more detailed information. The booklet was published by the Ministry of Education, Special Education in 2000.

Website: http://www.minedu.govt.nz/

Plunket

If you are concerned about your child's language or speech development, you could discuss your concerns with your Plunket nurse (or other Well Child provider - see the Well Child / Tamariki Ora services for under fives fact sheet on this website). For your local Plunket office or Plunket Karitane Family Centre, check the Plunket website or look under Plunket in your phone book. Plunket also offers a specialist early childhood health telephone help service. It is available to all families, whanau and caregivers 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Call PlunketLine free on 0800 933 922.

Postal address: PO Box 5474, Wellington 6145

National office phone: 64 4 471 0177

National office fax: 64 4 471 0190

Email: plunket@plunket.org.nz

Website: http://www.plunket.org.nz/

Speech Language Therapists

Speech language therapists are employed in the Ministry of Education, special schools, hospitals, and in private practice. To find a speech language therapist, you can:

contact the Ministry of Education, Special Education - (see Special Education on this website or phone the Special Education information line on 0800 622 222 or email a query to special.education@minedu.govt.nz. You can self-refer to a Ministry of Education speech-language therapist
see where to find speech and language therapists at the New Zealand Speech-Language Therapists Association website
ask your child's kindergarten or school teacher to refer your child
look in the phone book's yellow pages under speech language therapy for speech language therapists in private practice

Team-Up: Helping our kids learn (Ministry of Education)

The Team-Up website provides information, ideas and materials to help parents support their children and get more involved in their learning and education. There are lots of ideas about play for babies, toddlers and young children and information about how children learn through play.

Website: http://www.teamup.co.nz/

Acknowledgements

Starship Foundation and the Paediatric Society of New Zealand acknowledge the co-operation of The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney Children's Hospital at Randwick, and Kaleidoscope - Hunter Children's Health Network in making this fact sheet available to patients and families.

Your notes

Endorsement

This fact sheet was endorsed by PSNZ - 27/08/2009

Copyright

Fact sheets are subject to copyright. In the interests of information sharing they may be copied but acknowledgement must be given to PSNZ and Starship Foundation.
© The Paediatric Society of New Zealand and Starship Foundation 2005 - 2012

The Paediatric Society of New Zealand
http://www.paediatrics.org.nz

Starship Foundation
http://www.starship.org.nz