Encouraging Speech and Language Development in 18-24 Month Olds

It’s only normal to worry about your young child’s speech and language development, particularly at the critical ages of 18-24 months. Your child’s development will impact their ability to engage with others and effectively navigate their world! 


At two-years old, your child typically should be using between 100 and 150 words, consisting of familiar nouns (“cookie”, “dog”, “cup”) and verbs (“eat”, “go”). Additionally, your child should be combining words into 2-3 word phrases, for example: “Eat cookie”, “Mommy go”. You should see a language “explosion” around this age, where your child begins using new words more frequently than before and progress accelerates. 


Furthermore, you should monitor your child's ability to understand – technically called receptive language. At two, your child should be able to identify clothing and body parts, follow simple 2-step commands, respond to yes/no questions, and point to familiar items/objects. If your child struggles to understand language, it may be harder for them to learn and use new words. 


You can encourage your child's development through day-to-day activities, especially including ones at home: 

• Singing with your child and leaving off key words (e.g., “Twinkle, twinkle, little _______”) encourages them to use vocabulary in a familiar way

 

• Reading is another great way to encourage language development! Make sure you read interactively with your child by asking your child specific questions while reading, for example: 
  • ​ask about functions: “What is she coloring with?”
  • talk about specific parts of a picture: “the dog's tail” or “the boy's shirt”
  • label the different pictures or objects in the book as you go along  

 

• Daily routines build understanding through repetition!
  • ​Give your child multiple step commands during activities (e.g., “First put on your shoes and then bring me your coat.”)
  • Explain the steps of activities you’re doing and have your child retell the steps back to you, with your help and guidance (e.g., hand washing or making a snack)

If you are concerned about your child's speech and language development, act now, as early intervention helps prevent your child from falling further behind. For children with speech and language weaknesses, speech therapy is imperative to address those weaknesses in order to help your child effectively communicate with others. If you have any questions about your child’s speech and language needs, please contact us at The Speech Space!

​Additional Resources:

• ​​American Speech and Hearing Association (ASHA)
• Parents Magazine

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