How many words should your toddler be saying? It is a question many Orlando area parents and caregivers ask. While children develop at different rates, there are milestones they should be meeting.
The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association has a collective resource of the milestones and norms for toddlers. If you suspect your child may have a speech or language disorder, take the first step. Contact First Words Speech Therapy, we provide a comprehensive evaluation for a variety of speech, language, and occupational needs. We are dedicated to providing personalized care to meet your child’s speech and language needs.
An Overview of Toddlers
2 to 3 Years
Approaching age 3, children will understand concepts like opposites and slightly more complex directions, and can express themselves for most needs.
Receptive Language (Understanding)
Understands opposites, like go/stop, big–little, and up/down
Follows 2-step directions (e.g., “get the spoon and put it on the table”)
Understands new words quickly
Has a word for almost everything
Talks about things that are not in the room
Uses speech sounds k, g, f, t, d, and n in words
Uses words like in, on, and under
Uses two- or three- words to talk about and ask for things (e.g., “give me water”)
Is understand by familiar people
Asks “Why?”
Puts 3 words together to talk about things. May repeat some words and sounds
3 to 4 Years
Three- to four-year-olds comprehend conceptual words and can put four words as well as several sentences together.
Receptive Language (Understanding)
Responds when called from another room
Understands words for some colors (e.g., red, blue, green)
Understands words for some shapes (e.g., circle, square)
Understands words for family (e.g., brother, grandmother)
Expressive Language (Talking)
Answers simple “who”, “what”, and “where” questions.
Says rhyming words (e.g., hat–cat)
Uses pronouns (e.g., you, me, we, they)
Uses some plural words (e.g., toys, birds, buses)
Is understood by most people
Asks “when” and “how” questions
Puts 4 words together. May make some mistakes (e.g., “I goed to school”)
Talks about what happened during the day. Uses about 4 sentences at a time.
4 to 5 Years
By around age 5, children can follow longer directions and can express themselves with complex sentences.
Receptive Language (Understanding)
Understands words for order (e.g., first, next, last)
Understands words for time (e.g., yesterday, today, tomorrow)
Follows longer directions (e.g., “put your pajamas on, brush your teeth, and then pick out a book”)
Follows classroom directions (e.g., “draw a circle on your paper around something you eat”)
Hears and understands most of what he/she hears at home and in school
Expressive Language (Talking)
Says all speech sounds in words. May make mistakes on sounds that are harder to say, (e.g., l, s, r, v, z, ch, sh, and th)
Responds to “What did you say?”
Talks without repeating sounds or words most of the time
Names letters and numbers
Uses sentences that have more than 1 action word (e.g., jump, play, get). May make some mistakes (e.g., “Zach gots 2 video games, but I got one”)
Tells a short story
Keeps a conversation goin
Early intervention can help children with speech and language disorders meet higher social and academic potential.
ASHA says: “The earlier a child’s speech and language problems are identified and treated, the less likely it is that problems will persist or get worse. Early speech and language intervention can help children be more successful with reading, writing, schoolwork, and interpersonal relationships.”
If you have any questions or concerns about your child, we encourage you to contact Orlando’s First Words Therapy. We take a holistic approach to speech-language-therapy to help your child communicate more effectively.
Our therapists have extensive clinical experience and training, ensuring your child receives the highest level of care.
