Every child develops differently!
Here is what typical speech development can look like:
3 to 6 month old babies:
Make sounds that are vowel-like (such as a/ah-e/eh-o-u) and throaty (k-g-ng)
Repeat the same sounds like "guh-guh"
Put different sounds together like “ah-goo”
Make lip sounds with their lips pressed together (m-p-b)
Some other early sounds include h-w-t-d-n
4 to 8 month old babies:
Put more sounds together in patterns and repeat them such as "a-ka-ba" which is babbling
Play with loudness and pitch of their voice
Try to imitate the speech sounds of others around them
Around their first birthday, babies:
Make similar groups of sounds in their babbling like “tata”- “bibibi”- “upupup”
First words start to show up. They usually start with these sounds: “b-m-p-t-d-w-n-h” with vowels (a-u-e-o-i)
First words are usually the most common words heard in their environment, like favorite objects/people: “papa”- “mama”- “dada”- “nana”
10 to 18 month old toddlers, toddlers:
Will often drop sounds at the end of words like “ba” for “ball” or “pa” for “park”
Will sometimes use a shorter word to say a word like “nana” for “banana”
Will start using true words more often as they practice, hear, and repeat what adults around them are saying
Might drop sounds in some words when building sentences and using more words
Because speech sound development is extremely varied between the ages of 12 to 36 months, caregivers should remember these general guidelines:
First words are almost always one or two syllables like “dada”
First words are generally a consonant-vowel combination like “ba”, “pa”, “da”
Early words usually begin with consonants that are visible when spoken by caregivers (p-b-m-t-d-n)
Early words can be approximations of the adult version like “gog” for dog and "tat” for tractor
Some toddlers use clear words from an early age, but many will take until their 3rd birthday to use words that sound closer to the adult version
3 years and on!
After the age of 36 months, children:
Start to sound clearer to adults around them
Use a larger number of consonant sounds like “k-g-f-s-l-ch-sh-r-j-y-j-th-z-v”
Use more complex sounds
Use more varied syllable combinations
WHAT YOU CAN DO NOW!
Give your child's speech sound development a boost!
Click here for a video on the strategy Notice, Show, Say It Slow, and click here for a video on How to Practice Speech in Daily Routines.
These videos were developed by the Training Team at The Speech & Stuttering Institute (SSI) to support families on their speech journey. KidsInclusive is linking these videos with permission from SSI.
For tips on how to support your child's early speech development, check out our handout Help Your Child Learn to Speak Clearly.
For tips on what to do when your child is hard to understand, check out our handout Help! I Can't Understand My Child.
Sometimes speech doesn't develop how we expect it to.
Click here for information on Speech Sound Delays and Disorders.
When we see a child, we listen to the way they are speaking,
watch how they are forming speech sounds, and
identify patterns in their speech sound learning and use.
Resources:
Articulation in Speech (video) Mistakes happen! Learn how, where and when articulation errors happen. you'll also learn what to do if you hear an articulation error.
Phonological Processes In Speech (video) Mistakes happen! Learn why phonological processes happen and when to be concerned. You'll also learn what to do if you hear this type of error.
How Sounds Are Made (video) Learn how our bodies make sounds and how sounds can be described based on how they are made.
Understanding Speech Errors (video) Learn what errors are expected based on your child's age and how you can work with your SLP to choose goals.
Understanding Motor Speech (video) Learn about what motor speech is and why difficulties happen. you will also learn what you can to do help.
5-minute home practice speech sounds Here are some suggestions and articulation picture cards to support your child's speech at home.
These Speech Learning Videos were developed by the Speech Team at ErinoakKids Centre for Treatment and Development to support families throughout their speech journey. KidsInclusive is linking these videos with permission from ErinoakKids.
Your Speech-Language Pathologist or Communicative Disorders Assistant may provide more individualized support.