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