Communication Milestones and the Holidays

What to Watch for in Your Child’s Speech Development

“Is she talking yet?” “How many words does he say?” “My granddaughter was saying full sentences by now!”

When families gather for holiday celebrations in December and January, young children are often a topic of conversation. In this article, our focus is on speech. Well-meaning comments like those above often leave parents wondering: Is my child’s communication development on track? Should I be concerned?

Instead of worrying, parents can welcome holiday gatherings as a window into childhood speech development. Watching your toddler interact with grandparents, cousins, and family friends creates natural opportunities to observe how they respond and attempt to communicate with others. Let’s take a look.

Before Words: The Building Blocks of Communication

Did you know that communication actually begins before a child’s first words? Pre-speech skills lay the foundation for language development and can reveal important clues about how your child is progressing. During holiday gatherings, watch for these essential building blocks:

Eye Contact and Attention

Does your child look at family members when they speak? Do they make eye contact when you call their name? Babies begin responding to voices and faces in the first months of life. By 7 to 9 months, most children look at you when you call their name. During holiday activities, notice whether your child watches relatives’ faces during conversations or songs.

Joint Attention

This is the ability to share interest in something with another person. When Grandma points at the holiday tree and says, “Look at the lights!” does your child follow her gaze? Does your toddler try to show relatives their favorite toy or point to decorations? Joint attention typically develops between 9 and 12 months and is a critical early sign of language development.

Gestures

Pointing, waving, and reaching are early forms of communication. By 10 to 12 months, most children point when they are trying to ask for something; they wave bye-bye and raise their arms to be picked up. Holiday gatherings offer perfect opportunities to see if your child waves to arriving guests, points at interesting decorations, or uses gestures to show what they want.

Babbling and Sound Play

Listen to the variety of sounds your child makes. By 7 to 9 months, babies typically babble long strings of sounds like “mamamama” or “babababa.” By their first birthday, they should produce a wide range of consonants and vowels. Even without words, this sound experimentation builds the motor skills needed for speech.

Holiday Moments That Reveal Development

Family celebrations create natural situations to observe your child’s communication. Here’s what to notice:

During Gift Opening

• Does your child show excitement through sounds or gestures?
• Do they try to share their new toy with others?
• Can they follow simple instructions like “Show Grandpa your new book”?

At the Dinner Table

• Does your toddler use words, sounds, or gestures to ask for more food?
• Do they respond when family members talk to them?
• Can they identify familiar foods when named?

During Songs and Games

• Does your child attempt to sing along or clap to holiday music?
• Can they participate in simple games like peek-a-boo or pat-a-cake?
• Do they imitate actions or sounds from familiar songs?

Meeting Relatives

• Does your child recognize familiar family members?
• Do they show appropriate stranger awareness with unfamiliar guests?
• Can they respond to greetings with waves or sounds?

Communication Milestones by Age

Always keep in mind that children develop at their own pace, and there’s a wide range of normal. Still, knowing general milestones helps you understand what to expect. Here’s what communication milestones typically looks like during the early intervention years:

Birth to 6 Months

In these early months, babies communicate through cries, coos, and facial expressions. They should startle or calm to sounds, smile when you talk to them, and begin making vowel sounds like “ooooo” and “aahh.” By 4 to 6 months, most babies giggle, respond to facial expressions, and vocalize during play.

7 to 12 Months

This is when communication really takes off. Babies begin babbling consonant-vowel combinations, respond to their name, and understand simple words like “no.” They start using gestures like pointing and waving. By their first birthday, many children say one or two words like “mama,” “dada,” or “hi,” though some take a bit longer.

13 to 18 Months

Toddlers at this stage typically understand far more than they can say. They follow simple directions, point to request things or share interest, and shake their head for “no.” Most children use several words and understand common objects and people in their lives. They may not speak clearly yet, and that’s okay.

19 to 24 Months

Vocabulary explodes during this period. Children typically start combining two words together, like “more juice” or “daddy go,” and many use 20-50 words by this age. They follow two-step directions and begin using words like “me” and “mine.” Speech may still be unclear to unfamiliar listeners.

2 to 3 Years

Language becomes more complex. Children use short sentences, ask “why” and “how” questions, and can tell you about their experiences. They use plurals and past tense. By age 3, familiar adults should understand most of what a child says, though some sounds may still be developing.

Late Talking: When Is It a Concern?

Some children are “late talkers” who catch up on their own. Others need support. Understanding the difference can help you decide when to seek help.

Factors That May Delay Talking

Several situations can contribute to later speech development without indicating a disorder:

• Bilingual households: Children learning two languages may appear to have smaller vocabularies in each language, but their combined vocabulary is often on par with single-language peers. Continue using both languages at home.
• Older siblings who speak for them: When a big brother or sister anticipates every need, younger children may have fewer opportunities to practice communication.
• Temperament: Some children are cautious observers who prefer to watch and listen before trying new skills.
• Birth order and family dynamics: First children often speak earlier because they receive more one-on-one adult attention.

Signs That Warrant Attention

While late talking can be normal, certain patterns suggest a child may benefit from evaluation:

• By 12 months: Not using gestures like pointing or waving; no babbling
• By 18 months: Prefers gestures over vocalizations; has trouble imitating sounds; no words
• By 24 months: Uses only a few sounds or words repeatedly; can’t follow simple directions; unusual tone of voice
• At any age: Regression or loss of previously gained communication skills

Parents and regular caregivers should understand about half of a 2-year-old’s speech and three-quarters by age 3. If your child’s speech is harder to understand than expected, it’s worth discussing with your pediatrician.

Supporting Communication During the Holidays

Holiday gatherings offer many opportunities to encourage your child’s communication. Here are some strategies to try:

• Narrate the experience. Talk about what you see and do. “Look at Grandma’s tree! The lights are so bright. Can you see the star on top?”
• Follow your child’s lead. When they show interest in something, talk about it. If they point at a decoration, describe it.
• Respond to communication attempts. When your child babbles, babble back. When they gesture, put their intention into words.
• Read holiday books together. Point to pictures and name them. Ask simple questions. “Where’s the snowman?”
• Singing songs and rhymes. Holiday music teaches rhythm and language patterns. Encourage clapping and movement.
• Give processing time. After asking a question, wait. Young children need extra time to formulate responses.

When Relatives Ask About Your Child’s Speech

Even when you know your child is developing normally at their own pace, well-intentioned comments from family and friends can be stressful. You might think of responding in some of these ways:

• “She’s communicating in her own way right now. Watch how she points to show us things!”
• “He understands so much more than he says. His pediatrician is helping us track his progress.”
• “Every child develops differently. We’re focused on all the ways she’s growing.”

Remember, you know your child best. Trust your instincts. If something feels off, even if you can’t quite explain it, that’s reason enough to seek guidance.

When to Seek Professional Support

Early intervention can make a significant difference in communication development. The earlier challenges are identified, the more effective support can be. Consider reaching out if you notice:

• No babbling by 12 months
• No gestures (pointing, waving) by 12 months
• No single words by 18 months
• No two-word phrases by 24 months
• Loss of any language or social skills at any age
• Difficulty understanding simple instructions
• Limited eye contact or social engagement

Check with your pediatrician, and if they feel there is a need, they can refer you to early intervention therapists in your area.

Early Intervention Therapies

If you have questions about your child’s speech development and communication skills, TEIS Early Intervention can help. Our specialists listen to your concerns, assess your child’s individual needs, develop a customized treatment plan, and coach you through simple, routine-based solutions to help your child thrive.

Call us at 412-271-8347 or ask your pediatrician about getting an Early Intervention evaluation.

Early intervention evaluations and therapy services are available under the Federal Early Intervention Program for Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities. Before services can begin, an independent evaluation of your child must be completed. To ensure impartiality, one agency provides evaluation services while another offers therapeutic services.

To schedule an evaluation, call 1-800-692-7288 or email help@connectpa.net