Developmental Milestones
Reference points for your child
9-12 Months
Recognises and responds to their own name
Understands simple commands (e.g. ‘No’)
Understands the name of familiar objects or people
Can make eye contact
Can smile and babble
Enjoys looking at books and listening to music and songs
Says ‘Mama/Mummy’, ‘Dada/Daddy’ and a few other words
Tries to make familiar sounds (e.g. car and animal noises)
Understands to look when someone points to an object
Understands common phrases/sayings used in the family
Turns their head to search for a sound when they can’t see what is making it
Anticipates what will happen next
12-24 Months
Says the names of simple body parts (e.g. ‘feet’ and ‘nose’)
Understands simple sentences (e.g. ‘Where is your shoe?’)
Uses more than 50 words (e.g. ‘no’, ‘me, ‘more’)
Sings simple songs (e.g. Row Row Row the Boat)
Uses pronouns instead of names (e.g. ‘he/she’, ‘it’)
Tries simple 2-3 word sentences (e.g. ‘no more’, ‘give me ball’)
Understands ‘in’ and ‘on’ without cues (e.g. ‘Put the bottle on the table’)
Non-family members can understand 50-75% of the child’s speech by 2 years of age
3 Years
Understands describing words
Answers ‘what’ and ‘where’ questions
Understands how objects are used (e.g. You ride on a bike)
Follows common and simple directions (e.g. ‘Give it to me.’)
Answers ‘Yes’ and ‘No‘ questions
Uses 3-4 word sentences
Begins to use basic grammar
Enjoys telling stories and asking questions
Is understood by familiar adults
People other than family members can understand 75-100% of the child’s speech by 3 years of age
Has a favourite book and/or television program
4 Years
Understands shape and colour names
Understands some “time” words (e.g. ‘lunchtime’, ‘today’ and ‘winter’)
Asks ‘who’, ‘what’, and ‘why’ questions
Uses lots of words, around 900, usually in 4-5 word sentences
Uses correct grammar, with occasional mistakes (e.g. ‘I falled down’)
Uses language when playing with other children
Starts using simple joining words (e.g. and, then)
Cam tell a story of 2 events in sequence (e.g. ‘I went to swimming then to the shops)
Becoming very intelligible to others in conversations
5 Years
Understand opposites, such as high/low
Understands and answers ‘when’ questions
Use sentences of about 6 words
Talk about events that are happening, have happened or might happen
Explains why something has happened
Explains the function of objects
Follows 3 part directions, e.g. stand up, get your shoes and wait by the door
Says how they feel and tell you their ideas
Becomes interested in reading, writing and numbers
Speaks clearly enough to be understood by everyone
6 Years
Understands ‘right’ from ‘left’
Uses sentences of 6 words with the correct grammar
Understands the meaning of most sentences
Starts using more complex joining words (e.g. but, because)
All sentences are correct, and they use all irregular words (e.g. ‘drew’, ‘got’)
Predicts the next sequence of events
Can tell a 4-5 part story
Understands more time words (e.g. ‘yesterday’, ‘today’, ‘tomorrow’, ‘before’)
7-8 Years
Understands between 20,000 – 30,000 words
Follows instructions to complete a task e.g. making their bed
Can reason and verbally problem solve challenging situations
Can recall and recount detailed events in order (e.g. what they did in the holidays)
Begins to understand that words can have more than one meaning
Begins to understand abstract language
Uses adjectives, time and number concepts
Begins to use complicated types of sentence structures
Can cooperate and work with others
Can read short chapter books independently
9-10 Years
Can follow complex instructions without using visual support
Can express and justify their own ideas and opinions
Describes events, people and items around them in detail
Begins to seek information from reading materials
Uses appropriate language to agree and disagree with parents, adults and peers
Begin to implement strategies to help them process information both verbally and visually
11-12 Years
Uses increasingly complex vocabulary (e.g. synonyms) to present ideas and in discussions
Begins to analyse and infer information from a written text
Can identify the different between opinions and facts
Can use age appropriate language to negotiate, present information and explain results to parents, teachers and peers
Can listen to and recall information from longer recounts, discussions and written information
Reads a variety of texts appropriate to their grade level
Can write a variety of written texts appropriate for their grade level (e.g. short essays)