When Should Kids Start Talking?

Speech Therapy for Kids

When Do Kids Start Talking?

The journey of language development in children is both fascinating and complex. It is important to keep in mind that we cannot force kids to develop. Typically, children begin to develop their speaking skills in a series of stages:

• Babbling (4-6 months): Babies start to experiment with sounds, producing repetitive consonant-vowel combinations like "ba-ba" or "da-da."

  
  

• First Words (12 months): Most children say their first recognizable words around their first birthday, often simple words like "mama" or "dada." Your child is in the imitation phase.

  
  

• Building Vocabulary (12-18 months): Children are building their word repertoire during this phase.

  
  

• Two-Word Phrases (18-24 months): By this age, many children can combine two words to form simple phrases, such as "more juice" or "big truck."

  
  

• Vocabulary Expansion (2-3 years): Vocabulary typically expands rapidly during this period, with children learning new words daily and starting to form more complex sentences.

  
  

• Conversational Skills (3-4 years): By age three, many children can engage in simple conversations, ask questions, and express their thoughts more clearly.

  
  

Signs of Speech Delay

While every child develops at their own pace, there are certain signs that may indicate a delay in speech development:

• By 12 months, not using gestures like waving or pointing.

• By 18 months, not saying any words.

• By 2 years, not combining two words.

• By 3 years, not being understood by family members or caregivers.

• Externalizing frustration through hitting, kicking, biting, etc. (behavior)

  
  
  
  
  
  

What to Do If Your Child is Delayed

If you suspect that your child is experiencing a delay in speech development, here are some steps you can take:

• Speech-Language Pathologist: A speech-language pathologist can conduct a detailed evaluation and provide tailored strategies to support your child's speech development. Speech and language pathologists are the only experts in communication and development.

  
  

• Engage in Interactive Play: Spend time playing with your child using toys and activities that encourage verbal interaction.

• Read Together: Reading books aloud can enhance vocabulary and comprehension. Choose age-appropriate books and encourage your child to point at pictures and describe them.

Early intervention is key, so if you have any doubts about your child's speech development, seek guidance as soon as possible.

Are you concerned with your child's communication development? Contact us and schedule a free consultation to discuss concerns. We're happy to help!