| Age |
Comprehension |
Expression |
| 0-12 months |
- smiles; shows pleasure
- uses different cries for different messages, such as hunger or discomfort
- pre-words (the same sound pattern used to get the same object)
- turn taking in ritualised games
- comes for cuddles
- watches faces
- puts objects together in play
- copies actions of others
- looks for hidden objects
- babbles
- imitates speech sounds/tunes
- realises vocalisations get a response
- understands first words
|
12-18 months
Stage of object naming and object permanence: looking for an object they see hidden and knowing something still exists when out of sight
|
- picks out object on request: “Where’s your cup?”
- responds to short commands: “Wave bye-bye”
- knows basic body parts
- can complete a request with an object:
|
- 10-20 words used – mostly object names
- one word may cover many meanings
- use of words may be too broad or narrow
- words may occur within strings of jargon
- common exclamations: “Oh dear!”
|
18-24 months
Stage of object representation: understanding that miniatures and pictures relate to real things |
- understands about 300 words
- follows simple two word direction
- knows simple question words:‘what?’ ‘where?’
|
- words are used reliably, although may not sound ‘adult’
- two word utterances
- negatives and questions indicated by intonation
- some verbs used
|
24-36 months
Stage of concept development |
- early concepts: ‘in’ ‘out’ ‘on’ ‘under’ ‘big’ ‘little’
- follows simple stories
- takes turns in conversations
- matches colours
- selects objects by function: “Which do you eat?”
- follows two word instructions: “Put the cup on the plate”
|
- three + word utterances
- grammar begins to develop: -ing, possessive ’s
- begins to tell stories and recent experiences
- interacts with other children
|
| 3-5 years |
- by 5, follows all normal conversation
- selects at least four colours by name
- understands range of prepositions: ‘behind’ ‘between’
- understands full range of question words;‘who’ ‘how’ ‘why’
- understands full range of pronouns
- recognises past and future tense
|
- vocabulary used approaches 5000 words
- links utterances with ‘and’ and ‘because’
- grammar maturing, though still some mistakes
- language used as a tool for thinking, learning and imagining
|