At 3 years old, children’s speech and language development can vary, but there are certain milestones that can help you assess whether your child’s speech is on track. Here’s what to look for in a typical 3-year-old’s speech development:
Speech Milestones for a 3-Year-Old:
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Vocabulary:
- By age 3, children usually have a vocabulary of about 1000- 5000 words. They may be able to name objects, people, and places in their world.
- Your child should be able to name basic colours, shapes, and common objects.
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Sentences:
- They will often speak in 3- to 4-word sentences. For example, “I want cookie” or “Where is Mommy?”
- Your child may also start to use simple grammar, like using past tense (“played”) or plurals (“dogs”).
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Pronunciation:
- Speech should be easier to understand, though it may still be imperfect. By age 3, others should be able to understand about 75% of what your child says (more so for family members).
- Some mispronunciations are normal at this age (like saying “wabbit” for “rabbit”), but they should be improving over time.
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Following Directions:
- Your 3-year-old should be able to understand and follow simple directions that involve 2-3 steps, such as “Pick up your toy and put it in the basket.”
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Engaging in Conversations:
- They will begin engaging in simple back-and-forth conversations. You may notice your child asking questions (“What’s that?” or “Why?”) and trying to engage in discussions.
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Using Pronouns:
- By this age, children begin to use pronouns (like “I”, “you”, “he”, “she”) correctly, though mistakes are still common (e.g., “Me want cookie” instead of “I want cookie”).
Signs to Watch For:
If you notice any of the following signs, it may be worth seeking advice from a Speech Therapist.
- Limited vocabulary: If your child has fewer than 500 words by 3 years old, this may be a sign of a delay.
- Difficulty combining words: If your child is still only using single words or not combining words into short sentences (e.g., “want cookie” or “go park”), this may warrant further evaluation.
- Speech is unclear: If strangers (beyond close family) can’t understand much of what your child says, this might suggest a need for speech therapy. 50% of what your child says should be understood by the unfamiliar listener.
- Difficulty with social communication: If your child struggles to take turns in conversation, engage with others, or seems uninterested in social interactions, this could indicate a developmental concern.
- Limited understanding of language: If your child isn’t following simple instructions (like “give me the toy” or “bring me your shoes”), this could suggest a delay in language comprehension.
- If your child lining up his /her toys and he /she will not let you join in and share the play this would be an area for concern.
- If you
Encouraging Speech Development:
- Engage in conversation: Talk with your child about what they are doing, what they see, or what they’re interested in. Encourage them to ask questions and give detailed answers.
- Read together: Books are an excellent tool for expanding vocabulary and teaching new concepts.
- Play with your child: Interactive play, especially with other children, helps improve both language and social skills.
- Model correct language: If your child says something incorrectly, you can repeat it back correctly to help them learn. For example, if they say, “I goed to the store,” you can say, “Yes, you went to the store.”
When to Seek Help:
If your child is not meeting several of these milestones or if you have concerns about their speech or language development, you are strongly encouraged to book an appointment with a Speech Therapist. Early intervention is BEST and can be very helpful if there are delays in speech or language skills. It is important you don’t take a watch and wait approach.
Keep in mind that every child develops at their own pace, but there are norms that guide what is the typical range and accepted timeline for skills to develop.