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Communication & Language Milestones

The first five years of life are a period of incredible growth in all areas of a child’s development. It’s a time of tremendous brain development that is very important for communication development. Babies begin communicating by crying, and then in a few months start babbling and imitating sounds. So much of a young child’s learning depends on having the ability to communicate with others, to begin to understand their world, to express their wishes and to ask those important questions about “why.”

View Milestones

Newborn Milestones

Newborn

  • Communicates mainly by crying.
  • Gives clues about being hungry by smacking lips and rooting.
  • Yawns and arches back when overstimulated.
1 Month Milestones

1 Month

  • Makes cooing sounds.
  • Cries to communicate.
  • Smacks lips and roots when hungry.
  • Yawns and arches back when overstimulated.
2 Month Milestones

2 Months

  • Makes cooing sounds.
  • Cries to communicate needs.
  • Turns head toward sounds.
  • Yawns and arches back when overstimulated.
3 Month Milestones

3 Months

  • Makes cooing sounds.
  • Chuckles in response to you.
  • Cries when hungry or uncomfortable.
  • Makes gurgling noises.
4 Month Milestones

4 Months

  • Babbles and imitates sounds.
  • Laughs aloud.
  • Cries in different ways when hungry, in pain or tired.
6 Month Milestones

6 Months

  • Coos and babbles more than two vowel sounds (“ah,” “eh,” “oh”), squeals and laughs.
  • Copies sounds that others make.
  • Responds to own name.
  • Begins to say consonant sounds like “b” and “m.”
9 Month Milestones

9 Months

  • Makes sounds like “bababa,” “dadada,” “mamama.”
  • Understands “no.”
  • Copies gestures such as nodding head for “yes” and shaking head for “no.”
  • Points at things.
12 Month Milestones

12 Months

  • Uses simple gestures like shaking head “no” or waving “bye-bye.”
  • Says “mama” and “dada.”
  • Tries to say words.
  • Responds to simple requests such as shaking head when asked, “are you all done?”
18 Month Milestones

18 Months

  • Says three or more single words.
  • Starts to imitate two-word phrases, such as “all done.”
  • Points to show what he/she wants.
  • Says “no” and shakes head.
2 Year Milestones

2 Years

  • Uses two or three words together.
  • Points to things or pictures in a book when named.
  • Follows simple directions.
  • Knows names of familiar people, and body parts.
3 Year Milestones

3 Years

  • Uses three-word sentences and carries on a conversation.
  • Talks clearly enough so that strangers can usually understand.
  • Follows two- or three-part instructions.
  • Says words like “I,” “me,” “you,” and “we” and uses some plurals.
  • Understands words such as “in,” “on” and “under.”
  • Says first name, age and gender.
  • Asks “why,” “where,” “what,” “when” and “how” questions.
  • Names a friend.
4 Year Milestones

4 Years

  • Tells stories and recalls parts of stories.
  • Knows some basic rules of grammar and uses words correctly.
  • Sings a song or says a rhyme from memory.
  • Says first and last name.
  • Communicates clearly and speaks in complete sentences.
5 Year Milestones

5 Years

  • Speaks very clearly, using sentences of five or more words.
  • Tells a story in complete sentences.
  • Uses future tense such as “I will be there.”
  • Says name and address.
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If you have concerns about a child's development and think a child might need extra help to learn and grow, do not hesitate to refer a child.

The family will be contacted by the local school districts to arrange for a screening or evaluation to determine if their child is eligible for Infant and Toddler Intervention or Preschool Special Education services in Minnesota.

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