Child Speech-Language Milestones – the Stages of Development

Child Speech and Language Milestones

The rate at which children reach their speech and language milestones, depends on each individual, their genes and the environment that they grow up in. Some children will reach certain developmental milestones quicker than others, and some children will be slow to develop certain speech and language skills compared to their peers, even if there are no related problems. However, despite a bit of difference between children, we expect most children to develop certain skills within a certain time-frame.

This information below and other pages relating to milestones is just a general guideline to the stages of development. Many experts vary considerably on what they believe to be the normal stages of development. There may also be some difference between boys and girls and when they develop certain skills.

You will see that many skills mentioned in the content below are repeated over several age groups as children are all different and some take longer to develop these abilities. So just use this chart as a very general guideline rather than read too much into it.

To try and make this information easier to read we have created a made-up child called Bill. Bill was lucky, he had a childhood free of any illness or accidents and he had pro-active parents who played with him and gave him lots of quality one-to-one attention.

Each age group in the Milestones section covers five specific areas of development.

Speech and Auditory Awareness
Expressive Language and Semantics
Social use of Language (use and pragmatics)
Receptive language (comprehension, perceiving and understanding) and cognition
Gross and fine motor skill

Click on the ages below to show the milestones and development of Bill as he grows:

Click on the links below for the milestones relevant to your child.

Go to our Milestones Resources section for Downloadable facts-sheets about child speech and language development milestones. Click Here

Milestones – Speech and Language Development 0 – 12 months

Milestones 0 – 12 Months From the day they are born children are growing and developing. In the first year of life (0-12 months) the child will be develop key milestones that will be the building blocks for their future communication skills. The rate at which children reach their speech and language development …

Speech and Language Developmental Milestones 12 – 18 months

Milestones 12 – 18 months This is a continuation of the speech and language developmental milestones resource, and looks at development from ages 12 to 18 months (between 1 and 1.5 years). The rate at which children reach their speech and language development milestones can vary depending on the child and the environment that surrounds …

Speech and Language Developmental Milestones 18 – 24 months

Milestones 18 – 24 months This is a continuation of the speech and language developmental milestones resource from 18 to 24 months (between 1.5 to 2 years). The rate at which children reach their speech and language development milestones can vary depending on the child and the environment that surrounds them. Some children will …

Speech and Language Development Milestones 24 – 30 months

Milestones 24 – 30 months This is a continuation of the speech and language development milestones resource from 24 to 30 months (between 2 to 3 years). The rate at which children reach their speech and language development milestones can vary depending on the child and the environment that surrounds them. Some children will …

Speech and Language Developmental Milestones 30 – 36 months

Milestones 30 – 36 months This is a continuation of the speech and language developmental milestones resource from 30 to 36 months (between 2.5 to 3 years). The rate at which children reach their speech and language development milestones can vary depending on the child and the environment that surrounds them. Some children …

Speech and Language Developmental Milestones 36 – 48 months

Milestones 36 – 48 months This is a continuation of the speech and language developmental milestones resource from 36 to 48 months (3 to 4 years). The rate at which children reach their speech and language development milestones can vary depending on the child and the environment that surrounds them. Some children will develop …

Speech and Language Developmental Milestones 48 – 60 months

Milestones 48 – 60 months This is a continuation of the speech and language developmental milestones resource from 48 to 60 months (4 to 5 years) . The rate at which children reach their speech and language development milestones can vary depending on the child and the environment that surrounds them. Some children will …

Speech and Language Developmental Milestones 60 – 72 months

Milestones 60 – 72 months This is a continuation of the speech and language developmental milestones resource from 60 to 72 months (5 to 6 years). The rate at which children reach their speech and language development milestones can vary depending on the child and the environment that surrounds them. Some children will develop …

Speech and Language Developmental Milestones 72+ months

Milestones 72+ months This is a continuation of the speech and language developmental milestones resource from 72 months (6 years on-wards). The rate at which children reach their speech and language development milestones can vary depending on the child and the environment that surrounds them. Some children will develop certain speech and language skills …