Language Milestones in children in the first five years

(Please note that the original video on Language Milestones in children is in Hindi. Its voice over is also available in Telugu. The caption in both the videos is available in English.) 

The initial years in children’s lives are full of excitement. Language and communication play a crucial role in these initial years, as they learn to communicate and understand. In this article based on a video by Ummeed Organisation you will learn about the language milestones in children in the first five years. The video will also reflect on some signs which will alert you to possible language delays. You can consult the doctor for these concerns.

Using gestures, understanding and using swords are important parts of speech and language development. Each child develops these skills at different rates. However it is important for parents to observe and recognise any significant signs of delays in development milestones, as these in turn affect the overall growth and development of the child.

A complete evaluation is essential for a correct diagnosis. Early diagnosis can help in early intervention that can assist in your child’s growth and progress.  

Hearing concerns in children:

One of the first and important steps in the evaluation of your child, is to assess any hearing concerns in your child, as they can have a huge impact on the child’s language development. 

Signs that indicate concerns in hearing 

1. Not startled by loud sounds
2. Does not turn towards the source of sound by 6 months of age
3. Is unable to hear all sounds
4. Does not respond to name 
5. Does not speak single words at 12 months of age

If hearing concerns are identified and addressed in the first 6 to 12 months of age, it can help improve the speech and language delay in children significantly.

Below is a list of developmental milestones for speech and language:

Developmental milestones at 1 year of age

• Respond to name or instructions
• Speak and understand single words like ‘mama’, ‘dada’
• Follow simple instructions like ‘come here’, give it to me’
• Use gestures to point, wave or to be picked up

In case of absence of or differences in achieving these milestones, it may be necessary and helpful to consult a doctor for further evaluation.

• Does not use single words 
• Does not point to objects 
• Does not use gestures to communicate

Developmental milestones at 2 year of age

• Can name familiar objects, people around them
• Can recognise objects in books
• Can make small sentences of 2-3 words
• Name body parts
• Carry out a 2 step instructions

Though each child develops at their own rate, it is important to observe for delays that may be a cause for concern, like:

• Does not use 2 words to communicate
• Does not imitate or copy gestures or words
• Cannot carry out simple instructions

Developmental milestones at 3 year of age

• Can identify and use words for familiar object
• Use words like mine, yours and also plural words like cars or boys
• Use sentences made up of 3 words
• Use prepositions like above and below and also understand and use phrases like ‘on the bed’ or ‘below the chair’

Observe for signs:

• Cannot talk clearly
• Cannot make small sentences
• Cannot follow simple instructions
• Cannot indulge in play with other children or in pretend play
• Concerns in eye contact

Developmental milestones at 4 year of age

• Can narrate incidents with friends, at school, at home 
• Answer most WH-questions such as what, where, why
• Can use words such as his, her for people appropriately
• Carry out 2-3 step instructions in the proper sequence

Observe for changes in:

• Cannot narrate short stories
• Has difficulty in using words like his or her
• Has difficulty in performing in 3-4 step instructions
• Has limited eye contact
• Does not indulge in pretend play

Developmental milestones at 5 year of age

• Can talk clearly and narrate stories
• Can use future tense like ‘she will come’, ‘he will go’
• Listen to stories and answer questions when asked
• Carry out activities in a first-next sequence

Observe for changes in:

• Cannot recall and narrate incidents from his day
• Has difficulty in using plural words like cars or boys
• Has difficulty in performing in multi step instructions in a given sequence
• Does not indulge in different types of play

Language development plays a vital role in how children learn and thrive in school and beyond. Every child’s pace is unique, but if you notice that communication skills are unfolding more slowly, it can be helpful to seek guidance from your pediatrician to support their growth.

Parents can also work with your child at home, to improve their language development.

You can also check out the article on Language Delay in children – An Overview. 

Acknowledgement: We would like to thank Dr. Sana Smriti for verifying the content. We would also like to thank our volunteers, Alamgeer Mohammed, Allu Bhavani, and Pinninti Sagar from Synchrony for helping us with Telugu voice-overs.

If you have questions about Autism, Down Syndrome, ADHD, or other intellectual disabilities, or have concerns about developmental delays in a child, the Nayi Disha team is here to help. For any questions or queries, please contact our FREE Helpline at 844-844-8996. You can call or what’s app us. Our counselors speak different languages including English, Hindi, Malayalam, Gujarati, Marathi, Telugu, and Bengali.

DISCLAIMER: Please note that this guide is for information purposes only.