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Speech and Language Milestones, Ages 3 to 5 Years

Overview

Language and communication milestones relate to two areas:

  • Receptive language. This is the ability to understand words and sounds.
  • Expressive language. This is the ability to use speech and gestures to communicate meaning.

A child's language and communication skills become more advanced starting around age 3 through age 5. Receptive language skills during this period become more sophisticated. A child learns to make subtle distinctions between objects and relationships. Also, the child can understand multi-step requests. Most children also gradually speak more fluently and use proper grammar more consistently.

Language and communication milestones
AgeMilestones
3-year-olds:
  • Talk with you in conversation using at least two back-and-forth exchanges.
  • Ask "who," "what," "where," and "why" questions.
  • Say what action is happening in a book or picture when asked.
  • Say their first name when asked.
  • Talk well enough for other people to understand most of the time.
4-year-olds:
  • Say sentences with four or more words.
  • Say some words from a song, story, or nursery rhyme.
  • Talk about at least one thing that happened during their day.
  • Answer simple questions.
5-year-olds:
  • Tell a story they heard or made up with at least two events.
  • Answer simple questions about a book or story after you read it or tell it to them.
  • Keep a conversation going with more than three back-and-forth exchanges.
  • Use or recognize simple rhymes.

Credits

Current as of: October 24, 2024

Author: Ignite Healthwise, LLC Staff
Clinical Review Board
All Ignite Healthwise, LLC education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.

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