Kid on a speech training with professional woman specialist

Speech and Language Development for Kids

By now your child will be speaking in sentences and easily understood by people other than family members. Their speech and language skills are rapidly developing:

  • They can count up to 20.
  • They have the imagination to tell stories.
  • They have a sense of humour and enjoy jokes.
  • They can answer questions and follow simple instructions.
  • They will also ask lots of questions. (Why?).
  • They have an understanding of opposites, such as hot or cold, big or little.
  • They can tell you basic colours.
  • They are singing songs and often have a favourite song they have memorised and sing for everyone.

Outings to the shops, the zoo or museum or bushwalks are also great activities for learning, as you can describe what you are seeing.

Encouraging speech and language

There are many ways to encourage your child’s skills through play and everyday activities. Join your local library – usually they have a children’s story time session, and your child can also choose books to borrow. This allows them to practice choosing without you spending a fortune on new books, puzzles or educational toys. They will be interested in books about the alphabet, counting and picture books with simple text. Sometimes they will want to read the story to you. It may not be exactly the story in the book but they pretend they are reading it and often will point to and say the name correctly of animals or numbers.

Outings to the shops, the zoo or museum or bushwalks are also great activities for learning, as you can describe what you are seeing. Don’t just keep telling them what you are seeing – encourage your child to describe the animals, the scene or the activity.

When to seek help

  • If your child is not able to conduct a simple conversation, using many different words.
  • If their speech is not easily understood by people other than your close family.
  • If they can’t understand or follow through on an instruction such as "Go to your room and get your shoes and socks, and bring them to mummy", then they may have a language comprehension or hearing problem.
Funny Caucasian young family in kitchen watching content on laptop

Where to go for help

Ask your Child and Family Health Nurse to check your child. They may refer you to a speech pathologist and/or suggest a hearing test. If your child has had frequent ear infections then it’s advisable to have their hearing checked.

Chapter 3 Growing Up

Related articles

Grandmother and grandchild making dough in the kitchen

Chapter 3 Growing Up

Toddlers Play and Toys

Grandmother and grandchild making dough in the kitchen

Chapter 3 Growing Up

Learning to Talk

Grandmother and grandchild making dough in the kitchen

Chapter 3 Growing Up

Setting the Boundaries

Grandmother and grandchild making dough in the kitchen

Chapter 3 Growing Up

Toddler Temper Tantrums