In speech development, most two-and-a-half-year olds can:

• Use 50+ words
• Answer questions
• Refer to self as “I” or “me”
• Communicate mostly with speech and shows frustration when misunderstood

In speech development, most three-year-olds can:

• Identify body parts
• Carry on a ‘conversation’ with self and dolls
• Ask “what’s that?” And “where’s my?”
• Use 2-word negative phrases such as “no want”
• Form some plurals by adding “s”: book, books
• Speak 450 words
• Give first name, hold up fingers to tell age
• Combine nouns and verbs “mommy go”
• Understand simple time concepts: “last night”, “tomorrow”
• Refer to self as “me” rather than by name
• Try to get adult attention: “watch me”
• Like to hear same story repeated
• Possibly say “no” when means “yes”
• Talk to other children as well as adults
• Solve problems by talking instead of hitting or crying
• Answer “where” questions
• Name common pictures and things
• Use short sentences like “me want more” or “me want cookie”
• Ask questions starting “when”, “where” or “who”
• Be understood 80% of the time
• Use vocabulary of 200+ words
• Repeat five word sentences
• Can often make words into the plural  e.g. “She ‘doed’ this…”

Parenting Tips for Speech Skills

Suggested play to help with toddler speech development between 2 and 3:

• Take field trips. Your child will enjoy going to new places. This doesn’t need to be expensive. For example, take a bus to a different part of town, walk by the big buildings, then sit on a bench and watch the buses and trucks drive by. Even better, see if you can find a construction site! Little boys and girls both love to watch back hoes in action.
• Make sock puppets. No need to make this an elaborate craft project. Simply put a sock over your hand and pretend to talk to your toddler. “I’m Suzy the sock. I love to keep your toes warm.” Encourage your toddler to talk back (as him/herself, or as another sock).
• Sing songs. If you don’t remember songs from your own childhood, go to the library and pick up a book with “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” or “Ba Ba Black Sheep.” Your toddler will love to sing the song for someone else in the family.
• Wash a baby. Give your toddler a plastic tub and a plastic doll and have him/her wash the doll or, he/she can bring the doll into the tub. Name the doll parts as they are washed, You did a good job washing the baby’s feet! Praise your child for taking such good care of his/her baby.
• What did I hear? Try this at night. When the house is quiet, listen with your child for interesting sounds. “What’s that?” “Its the refrigerator motor.” This is good to do on a summer night when you might hear crickets, wind chimes or a dog barking.
• Make a photo album. Fill this book with pictures of people and pets that your child knows. As your child is looking at the book, ask him/her to tell you a little bit about the people or pets that he/she sees.
• Play the forgetful game. You child will laugh when you give everyday household items silly names. Point to your child’s bed and say, “I forget what this is. Is it a car?” Your child will enjoy telling you the real word. The sillier you are makes this even better!
• Read, pause and ask. When reading a book, take the time to stop and ask questions. Point to the illustrations and ask your toddler what they think will happen next.