Welcome back to our series, “Milestones: Navigating the Numbers”! You can read about our first blog post in the series here. With the release of the updated milestone checklist from American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), we were motivated to share this information with all of you in an easy-to-read and parent-friendly way!
Today we are talking all about the development from age 1 to age 2! Your child begins to communicate more, understand more, and play more. Because of so many changes happening during this year of life, we’ve separated this post into two sections: from 13-18 months and 18-24 months. Keep reading for all the fun that’s in store for you and your little one this year!
By 13-18 months, a toddler should be able to:
Receptive Language Skills (the comprehension of language):
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Follows simple, 1-step directions:
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“Give me the banana”
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“Hug the bear”
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“Come here”
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Identifies one or more body part
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Looks around when asked “where” questions
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“Where’s your baby doll?”
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“Where’s your drink?”
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“Where’s the ball?”
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Expressive Language Skills (ability to communicate wants, needs, thoughts and feelings):
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Points to request, comment, or get information
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Shakes head for “no” and nods head for “yes”
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Has at least 10 words in their repertoire
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Understands and begins to use words for:
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Common objects (i.e. car, dog,
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Some actions (i.e. go,
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People in their lives (i.e. mama, dada, nana, siblings names)
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Speech Production Skills (Sound Production):
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Uses long strings of sounds, syllables, and/or real words
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Uses speech-like inflection
Social-Pragmatic Language Skills (Social-Skills):
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Uses gestures when excited
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Clapping
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Giving a high-five
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Being silly, such as making a funny face
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Feeding Skills:
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Feeds themselves using utensils or their fingers
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Eats foods of mixed consistencies
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Uses their tongue to move food around in their mouth
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Can move food from one side to the other
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Drinks water and human milk
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Drinks from a straw or enclosed cup without help or without spilling, drinks from an open cup with some spilling
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Sits either upright on a chair with feet on the floor or on a flat surface
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We want to ensure 90-90-90 degree support! Meaning support at their hips, at their knees, and at their feet!
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What an incredible 6 months of development! The exciting part is… that’s only half of your child’s year! Keep reading to learn more.
By 18-24 months, a toddler should be able to:
Receptive Language Skills (the comprehension of language):
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Follows 2-step directions
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“Get your cup and give it to daddy”
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“Get the book and put it on the table”
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Expressive Language Skills (ability to communicate wants, needs, thoughts and feelings):
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Uses and understands at least 50 different words for:
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Toys
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Food
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Animals
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Body parts
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Uses:
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Pronouns like “me”, “mine” and “you”
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Possessives like “mommy’s bag” or “daddy’s hat”
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Combines two or more words
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“More milk”
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“Go car”
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Speech Production Skills (Sound Production):
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Speech may not always be understandable
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May make speech errors, like “dah” for “dog”
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Says the “p” sound with no difficulties
Social-Pragmatic Language Skills (Social-Skills):
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Uses words to ask for help
Feeding Skills:
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Sit upright without support
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Continues to feed themselves with their fingers or utensils
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Consumes foods that require more chewing
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Still requires adult assistance to cut foods that are more difficult to chew into smaller pieces to present choking
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Drinks human milk and water
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Drinks from a small cup with hands with minimal spilling
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Moves food around in their mouth, chews, and swallows without spilling
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Chews food on both sides of their mouth
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As always, we’re here to help! If you have concerns about your toddler’s language, speech, social, or feeding developmental milestones, we offer free phone consultations with a speech-language pathologist to discuss your questions and concerns further.
Be on the lookout for our next blog in the series- all about development from age 2 to age 3!
For more information on the milestones check out:
https://www.owlstherapy.com/new-blog/milestones-vs-averages
https://www.asha.org/public/developmental-milestones/communication-milestones/
Contact us today!