By: Tara Bernard M.S. CCC-SLP
Communication skills begin to develop even before a child utters their first word. The information below, mostly taken from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association’s (ASHA) “How Does Your Child Hear and Talk?” represents the average age that most monolingual speaking children reach the listed milestones. Typically, children do not master every item in a category until they reach the older end of the age range.
If your child is not doing 1 or 2 of the skills in this age range, your child may have delayed hearing, speech, and language development. If your child is not doing 3 or more of the skills listed in this age range, please contact a Speech-Language Pathologist and/or Audiologist to find out if an evaluation or consultation is necessary.

What should my child be able to do from One to Two Years?

Hearing and Understanding
• Points to a few body parts when asked.
• Follows simple commands and understands simple questions (“Roll the ball,” “Kiss the baby,” “Where’s your shoe?”).
• Listens to simple stories, songs, and rhymes.
• Points to pictures in a book when named.
• Nods “yes” and shakes head for “no.”
• Understands more words than can speak.

Talking
• Says more words every month.
• Babbles sound like sentences
• Uses some one-or two-word questions (“Where kitty?” “Go bye-bye?” “What’s that?”).
• Puts two words together (“more cookie,” “no juice,” “mommy book”).
• Uses many different consonant sounds at the beginning of words.

What can I do to help my child from One to Two Years?
• Talk while doing things and going places. When taking a walk in the stroller, for example, point to familiar objects (e.g., cars, trees, and birds) and say their names. “I see a dog. The dog says ‘woof.’ This is a big dog. This dog is brown.”
• Use simple but grammatical speech that is easy for your child to imitate.
• Take a sound walk around your house or in the baby’s room. Introduce him/her to Timmy Clock, who says “t-t-t-t.” Listen to the clock as it ticks. Find Mad Kitty Cat who bites her lip and says “f-f-f-f” or Vinnie Airplane who bites his lip, turns his voice motor on and says “v-v-v-v.” These sounds will be old friends when your child is introduced to phonics in preschool and kindergarten.
• Make bath time “sound playtime” as well. You are eye-level with your child. Play with Peter Tugboat, who says “p-p-p-p.” Let your child feel the air of sounds as you make them. Blow bubbles and make the sound “b-b-b-b.” Feel the motor in your throat on this sound. Engines on toys can make a wonderful “rrr-rrr-rrr” sound.
• Expand on words. For example, if your child says “car,” you respond by saying, “You’re right! That is a big red car.”
• Continue to find time to read to your child every day. Try to find books with large pictures and one or two words or a simple phrase or sentence on each page. When reading to your child, take time to name and describe the pictures on each page.
• Have your child point to pictures that you name.
• Ask your child to name pictures. He or she may not respond to your naming requests at first. Just name the pictures for him or her. One day, he or she will surprise you by coming out with the picture’s name.

Tara Bernard, M.S. CCC-SLP is a New York State licensed and nationally certified Speech-Language Pathologist. She is the owner and director of Simply Speaking Speech-Language Pathology, P.C.. Tara received a Bachelor’s Degree at Syracuse University, and a Master’s Degree of Science at Teacher’s College, Columbia University.
If you have any further questions about your child’s speech and language skills, for information regarding evaluations and therapy, or to schedule an appointment, please go to www.simplyspeakingny.com or contact Tara directly at 917-355-9440 or email her at tara@simplyspeakingny.com.