The chart below provides an overview of developmental language milestones between 3 and 8 years old. These are only general guidelines. Individual children will vary. I will be happy to assist you with questions or concerns you may have regarding your child’s language development.
Janine Spaulding
Speech/Language Pathologist
McKinley Elementary
Speech and Language Development
3 to 4 years
Understanding: Listens to stories. Follows two commands. Can match and sort objects. Remembers recent events.
Expressive Language: Asks lots of questions. Speech is understandable. Tells stories, shares ideas. Vocabulary increases to 1,500 words. Uses most parts of speech. Counts to three.
4-5 years
Understanding: Comprehends 2,500 words. Understands common opposites (hot-cold, in-out, etc.). Follows three part commands. Likes books. Tries to “read” them. Can retell a story using picture clues.
Expressive Language: Uses complete sentences. Uses “how” and “where” questions. Talks about imaginary things. Counts to ten. Can name items in a category (foods, animals, etc.). Has very few sound errors in speech.
5-6 years
Understanding: Understands time concepts. Begins to differentiate between fact and fantasy. Understands humor, plot, surprise.
Can sequence four pictures to make a story. Comprehends 4,000 words.
Expressive Language: Tells several things about an object. Tells a sequence of events. Uses imaginative language in play. Will usually talk willingly to adults. Likes to pretend and act out stories. Uses possessives, negatives, conjunctions, irregular plurals, and complex sentences.
6-8 years
Understanding: Understands riddles. Anticipates story endings. Wonders about abstract concepts such as how things work. Understands some figurative language.
Expressive Language: Gives short oral reports. Uses details in description. Uses most irregular verb forms. Creates conversation suggested by picture. Names days, months, numbers in serial order.
Reference:
Bush, Catharine S. (1991) Collaborating with Teachers and Parents: Methods, Materials and Workshops. Communication
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