Language development in children aged 1 to 3

A child’s communication skills begin to develop from infancy. Babies learn how to express themselves and explore the sounds of their native language. At around 6 months old, they begin to babble—saying “aaaa” and then “bababa”—as practice. Little by little, they start to understand words, and then start to talk.

Language development from age 1 to 3

12 to 18 months

Comment on what your child is doing.

Toddlers generally say their first word between 12 and 16 months. Their initial vocabulary typically consists of names for familiar people and objects, but words linked to their routines, such as nap and bye-bye, are also common.

At this age, children can’t combine words to describe what they see or ask for what they want; therefore, one word can mean several things. For example, the word baba can refer to a person (e.g., Daddy), a sippy cup when they are thirsty, or even a favourite blanket.

Parents and caregivers learn to interpret these words according to context and non-verbal cues (e.g., what the child is pointing to or looking at).

At this point, toddlers understand more words than their speech implies. They’re quickly learning the names of objects and actions that appear or occur in familiar settings. They understand simple instructions, like “Come here.”

It’s common for children this age not to say new words every day. In many cases, a child won’t start increasing their vocabulary at a faster rate and stringing words together until they know about 50 words. It’s also perfectly normal for them to pronounce words incorrectly.

In addition, 12-to-18-month-olds are able to recognize certain objects in books and point to them if prompted (e.g., “Where is the kitty?”).

18 to 24 months

Toddlers this age are continuing to build their vocabulary. When using more than one word to talk about people or objects, they begin to include actions such as eating and drinking.

Some sounds are still difficult for them to pronounce, such as “ch” (e.g., chicken) and “r” (e.g., run). They may also leave out a syllable when saying longer words (e.g., chameleon, computer).

Once they have a broader vocabulary, they start to use two-word sentences, like “Daddy gone.” When trying to make slightly longer word combinations, they often omit the shorter, more difficult words (e.g., my, he, to).

At this stage, children can often point to pictures in books, and they can name and comment a little on what they see.

2 to 3 years

From age 2 to 3, children learn to organize words in a certain order to make short sentences. They often use two- or three-word phrases to express themselves (e.g., “Daddy takes ball”) and to ask questions (e.g., “Where’s Mom?”). People who know the child well can usually decipher these early sentences.

The number of words that toddlers understand and say continues to increase rapidly during this period. It takes them less time to acquire a new word and integrate it into their vocabulary.

They’re also beginning to understand more abstract concepts. For example, they may know the difference between high and low or big and small.

What’s more, they’re able to follow two-step instructions, like “Catch the ball and throw it back to me.”

At this stage, children are better able to follow simple stories in books. During storytime, they can also answer basic questions like “Where’s the mommy?”, “Who is that?”, or “What is the daddy doing?”

By the age of 3, children are typically able to correctly pronounce many speech sounds. Even people who don’t know them well are now able to understand them most of the time.

How to foster your child’s language development

The following tips and activities can help your child develop their language skills.

1 to 2 years

• Engage with your child’s attempts to communicate. Toddlers make sounds, gesture, smile, and cry when they’re trying to tell you something.
• Verbalize what they’re trying to express and repeat what they say. Show them the object that they’re naming and give it to them if possible. For example, if they say “milk,” you can reply, “Yes, it’s milk!” and give them their cup. This tells them that you understand and value what they’re saying. Plus, your child will realize that their attempt to communicate was successful.
• If you don’t understand your toddler, consider the context. For example, if they point to the window and say “outside,” see if there’s anything special outside or if they just want to go out.

Get on their level

• Help your child understand you by enunciating and not speaking too fast. However, avoid baby talk (e.g., “din-din” instead of “dinner”) and incomplete sentences (e.g., “Mommy go store!”).
• When you’re at home or walking around your neighbourhood, name what you see (e.g., a tree, a bird, a dog). Also name anything your child points at or shows interest in. Praise them if they repeat the word, but don’t force them to.
• Enrich your child’s vocabulary by adding to what they say. For instance, if they say “apple,” you could say, “Yes, it’s a good apple!”. Or, if they say “good apple,” you could reply with, “Yes, you’re eating a good apple!” By adding words to their sentence, you’re teaching your child how to use them.
• Build on what your child says. For instance, if they say “fat cat,” you could say, “Yes, it’s a big black cat. You like cats!” You’re showing them how to build a sentence using the words they know. Even though your toddler can’t do it themself yet, they’ll learn from your example. Plus, your interest will make them feel heard.
• When you’re with your child, make a point of naming what you’re doing or what they’re doing. For example: “We’re picking up your toys and putting them in the bins” or “You’re making a ball out of your playdough!”
• Provide your child with books that have simple, colourful illustrations of objects, characters, or events that interest them. Name what you see in the illustrations or tell the story in your own words. This helps your toddler learn new vocabulary.
• Bring your child to storytime at the library. Storytime activities are a fun way to help children develop their language skills and foster a love of books. Ask your local library about their programming for young children.

2 to 3 years

• When your child talks, show that you’re interested by repeating or adding to what they say.
• If you want to have a conversation with your toddler, talk to them about what they’re currently doing (e.g., “You’re making a big tower! Are you going to add more blocks?”). You can also ask specific questions about their day, such as “Who did you play with at daycare today?” or “Do you remember what you had for lunch?”
• To encourage your child to tell you about past events (e.g., their day at daycare), tell them a few things about your day (“I bought some nice strawberries at the grocery store earlier. I know how much you love them!”). This will show them how it’s done.

• If you’re struggling to grasp what your toddler is saying, consider the context and focus on what you do understand. For example, if they say a short sentence but you only understand the word “cat,” you can say, “You’re talking about a cat! Where did you see it?”
• Talk to your toddler to help them build their vocabulary, understand the purpose of objects around them, and organize the world in their mind. For example, show them a toothbrush and say, “This is a toothbrush. You clean your teeth with a toothbrush.”
• When your child mispronounces a word or forms a sentence incorrectly, say it back to them correctly and more slowly. Draw your toddler’s attention to your face and exaggerate the pronunciation of the more difficult part of the word or sentence. For instance, instead of telling your child “We say ‘sing,’ not ‘thing,’” say “You’re right, I do love to ssssing!” Don’t ask them to repeat after you, as this might discourage them from talking, in addition to cutting off the conversation and putting the focus on something they have trouble with.
• Look at family photos together and use simple sentences to describe what you see: “That was Sarah’s party.” It’s a great way to help them better understand the world and their place in it. You can also focus on what the people in the photographs are doing to help your child learn new verbs.
• Read your toddler books that explore relatable topics (e.g., a birthday, potty training). Ask questions about the story, but also take the time to comment on what’s happening (e.g., “Oh, the boy is angry! Like you when Luca takes away your toy.”). Let them comment and ask you questions, as this helps them develop their language skills.

Things to keep in mind

• A child usually starts talking between the age of 12 and 16 months, but they begin communicating long before that through crying, gestures, and sounds.
• As their vocabulary grows, they begin to combine words. This often happens between 18 months and 2 years of age.
• To support your child’s language development, engage with their attempts to communicate. Repeat what they say, but correct their mistakes and use additional words.

Scientific review: Agathe Tupula Kabola, speech therapist Research and copywriting:The Naître et grandir team Updated: August 2024

Photo: GettyImages/riderfoot