Communication

Communication is one of the first and most important skills a child learns. In fact, it begins right at birth! Although infants cannot yet speak, they start to learn and understand feelings and communication through tones, gestures and movements. As they grow, their understanding and communication is important for proper development as well as helping a child express themselves, meet their needs, and appropriately talk about their feelings.


Some simple yet powerful ways to help improve communication at every development level are:

singing, reading, talking about what you are doing, giving appropriate words to use, using facial expression and gestures, incorporating sign language, using pictures or icons, pairing audio with visual or kinesthetic

infants (0 - 1 year)

  • Coo (0-3 months)

  • Consonant sounds (4-6 months)

  • Recognize important words and name (7-9 months)

  • Use some words properly (10-12 months)

Toddler (1 year - 2 years)

  • Understanding and using up to 10 words (13-18 months)

  • Answering basic questions

  • Using 2 word phrases (by 2 years), 2-3 word phrases (2.5 years)

  • Following directions

  • Asks "what", "why" and "where" questions (by 3 years)

  • Using plurals

preschool (3 years - 5 years)

  • Can understand most of what they say

  • Why? How? Asks a lot of questions!

  • Converses

  • Proper grammar (most times tenses are correct)

  • Follow 3-part directions

  • Knows hundreds to even thousands of words

  • Speaks in complete sentences (minimum 4 words)

  • Tells stories


Here are some common first signs to teach. Click the links to the right to learn more.