2-3 Years

Receptive Skills

  • Completes two requests with one object

  • Chooses two familiar objects

  • Comprehends action phrases

  • Begins to understand personal pronouns (my, mine, you)

  • Understands size differences (big/little)

  • Understands prepositions (in, on, under)

  • Understands quantity (one, all)

  • Names pictures of objects and people when requested

  • Follows 2-step directions (Sit down and read the book)

  • Begins to understand the concepts of past, present and future

  • Begins to understand more complex language

  • Comprehends more complex action phrases

  • Responds appropriately to a location description (under, on, in)

ASL

  • Begins to point to common areas in the house when asked a where question (WHERE MOMMY?)

  • Begins to recognize own name when fingerspelled

  • Alerts others when a doorbell or phone flashes

Spoken Language

  • Gets excited when someone knocks on the door

  • Points to over 5 body parts

  • Responds to what questions

  • Listens to simple stories

  • Identifies objects by their functions

  • Understands 250-300 spoken words

Expressive Skills

  • Names objects, animals and people in pictures

  • Says or signs full name on request

  • Requests help when needed

  • Attempts to tell "stories" about experiences

  • Imitates 2 word phrases

  • Uses early possessive pronouns (I, you, mine)

  • Asks what and where questions

  • Uses 2 word phrases with nouns, some verbs and adjectives

  • Uses new words regularly

  • Expressive vocabulary of more than 50 words

  • Refers to self by name

  • Asks for help with 2 word phrases

  • Begins to name primary colors

  • Answers wh questions

  • Expresses emotions (happy, sad, mad)

  • Uses negation (don't like, don't know, no)

  • Refers to self with personal pronouns

  • Counts to 5

  • Tells stories

  • Uses the word 'and'

  • Uses general words for categories (dog for all animals)

  • By 2.5 years answers yes/no questions

  • Asks 'why' and 'who' questions

  • Uses simple describing words (hot, cold, fat)

ASL

  • Uses descriptive classifiers (F-SPOTS, F, O, 3)

  • Uses non-manual markers, raised eyebrows, squints

  • Uses pronouns (HE, SHE, IT)

  • Uses possessive pronouns (MY, YOUR)

  • Uses lexicalized signs (BUS, ICE)

  • Uses simple handshapes (B, C, O, A, S, 1, 5)

  • Uses simple movements (straight forward, up, down)

  • Uses headshake + sign for negation

  • Questions include WHAT, WHERE, YES, NO

  • Uses non-manual facial adverbs (MM REG, DRIVE)

  • Signs 3-4 word sentences

  • Has 150 or more signs

Spoken Language

  • Orally tells of previous experiences

  • Uses 200-300 words

  • Uses present progressive -ing

  • Uses prepositions in and on

  • Uses possessive - s

  • Uses singular/plural noun-verb agreement (boy walks, boys walk)

  • Uses past tense in sentences (Mommy cooked)

  • Uses number + noun sentences (two doggies)

  • Spoken language is 50% intelligible with consonant, vowel, consonant syllables using early developing sounds

  • Recites a few short nursery rhymes

Social Communication

  • Increases self-confidence and is happy to be with people

  • Begins to request help when needed

  • Initiates pretend play

  • Responds to request from adults

  • Practices adult-like conversations with familiar themes

  • Uses words to interact

  • Requests information

  • Takes turns in conversations

  • Begins to narrate past events and refers to future actions

  • Will parallel play

  • Shares toys, cooperates in games

  • Asks for help with 2 or more words

  • Use longer utterances

  • Tells own age

  • Completes actions

  • Repeats what is said

  • Answers most questions

ASL

  • Enjoys signed stories and imitates the actions/facial expressions of characters in the story

  • Uses possessive pronouns (HIS, HERS)

Spoken Language

  • Initiates spoken conversation and responds with new information

  • Pretends to have a conversation on the phone

  • Talks while playing