Date: 14/Aug/2008
For most of us talking is our main form of communication and we would be lost without the ability to talk.
Speech and language skills are learnt from our youngest years. Considering babies are unable to talk at birth it is absolutely astounding to consider the vast increase in children’s vocabulary during their first three years.
According to the Raising Children Network the development of language generally proceeds through the following stages:
- Between the ages of three months and one year, you can expect your child to coo and laugh, play with sounds, babble and begin to communicate with gestures. Babbling is an important developmental stage during the first year and, for many children, words are beginning to form by around 12 months.
- 12 to 18 months and the first words usually appear – by 18 months babies use around 50 words. Babies can understand more than they say, though, and will be able to follow simple instructions and understand you when you say ‘no’ (although they won’t always obey!).
In her second year, your toddler’s vocabulary will probably grow to around 300 words, and she will start to put two words together into short ‘sentences’. She’ll understand much of what is said to her, and you’ll be able to understand what she says to you (most of the time!). - At 2 to 3 years …she’ll be able to speak in longer, more complex sentences, and use more and more speech sounds properly when she speaks. She might play and talk at the same time. Strangers will probably be able to understand most of what she says by the time she’s three.
- Now your child’s a preschooler - 3 to 5 years - you can expect longer, more abstract and complex conversations.
Please note that all children grow and develop at different rates and this information is a general guideline only.
There are many things you can do to encourage the development of your child’s language skills.
At Playgroup WA (Inc) we provide a Literacy Links program funded by the Federal Government. Under the program we regularly run Literacy Links workshops for parents in the Mirrabooka and West Pilbara areas. These workshops provide parents with practical tips, strategies and resources for reading with their children, thereby enhancing their development. If you would like further information on this program please contact our Literacy Links Co-ordinator, Andrea Folkard through our Hotline 1800 171 882.
We are also offering a free Let’s Talk workshop in Hamersley in September.
