Communication is multifaceted and looks a little bit different for every child. However, there are some general language abilities and milestones we can expect to see by a certain age. The following is an outline of language skills that most three-year-olds display.
Expressive Skills
Expressive language abilities relate to what your child produces (verbal speech, gestures, etc.).
- Combines 3-4 words in a phrase or sentence
- Uses many of these sounds: /b, p, t, d, m, n, h, g, k, f, w/ and all vowels
- Is about 75% intelligible to an unfamiliar person (e.g., your neighbor, family friend, etc. can understand about 75% of what your child says)
- Says their first and last name
- Uses nouns, verbs, and pronouns in spontaneous (non-imitated) speech (e.g., My ball rolls)
- Uses all words like “a”, “the”, “am”, “is”, and “are” in sentences
- Can tell at least three items from a common category (e.g., Tell me something you can eat)
- Tells at least two things about an object (e.g., Tell me about your toy)
Receptive Skills
Receptive language abilities are related to what your child understands.
- Follows 3-step commands independently
- Can identify which object is the smallest from a group of three
- Understands pronouns (e.g., me, your, my)
- Answers a variety of wh- questions (e.g., what, where, when, why, who)
- Identifies parts of an object (e.g., body parts or things that you wear)
Play Skills
Play comprises expressive and receptive language, as well as the social-emotional component of language.
- Pretends to be someone or something else
- Takes reciprocal turns during a game
- Counts one-to-one correspondence
- Participates in a play scheme for at least one minute with a familiar adult
It is important to remember that every child develops at their own rate. If your three-year-old has not mastered everything on this list, do not worry. If you do have concerns with your child’s language development, consider a consultation, screening, or evaluation with a speech-language pathologist to get your questions answered.
ETLC Offers Individualized Speech Support
Enrichment Therapy & Learning Center provides individualized speech and language support in the Iowa City, IA area and Des Moines, IA area. At Enrichment Therapy & Learning Center, our passion is to help kids achieve effective communication skills and gain academic success. Contact us for more information on how we can help your child succeed.
info@enrichmenttherapies.com
740 Community Drive, Suite A
North Liberty, IA 52317
319-626-2553
infodm@enrichmenttherapies.com
5530 West Pkwy, Suite 300
Johnston, IA 50131
515-419-4270
0 Comments