Speech and Language Development

2 ½- 3 years

Articulation/Speech:

• Still some substitutions and distortions of consonants
• Consonants mastered: m, n, ing, w, h, p, b, t, d,
• Is approximately 70-80% intelligible

Receptive Language:

• Comprehends approximately 900 words
• Listens to a 20 minute story
• Knows own sex and difference
• Knows in/on/under, big/little
• Matches colors
• Is cautious of common dangers
• Has complicated, sequenced routines for daily activities; objects to change

Expressive Language:

• Expresses 500 intelligible words
• Answers 6-7 agent action questions… “What runs?”
• Answers simple “who, why, where, how many” questions
• Yes/no questions emerging
• Repeats sentences of six to seven syllables accurately

Grammar/Syntax:

• Auxiliary “is/am + ing” (girl is running)
• Uses “is” + adjective (ball is red)
• Regular past-tense verbs appear (walk/walked)
• Uses “s” for possession (daddy’s car)
• Uses pronouns – I, me, you, mine (he and she are emerging)
• Negative “not” emerging
• Uses contracted form of “is” (he’s running)
• Uses imperatives (commands: go get it, don’t)
• Adverbs of location emerging (here, there)
• Understands “est” adjective marker (biggest)
• Comprehends third-person pronouns (he, she)
• Average phrase 3-4 words

Play:

• Dramatization and imagination begin to encounter play
• Imitates drawing a circle/straight line
• Interest in combining play things
• Plays with others in small groups
• Names own drawing
• Watches cartoons on TV
• Builds tower of none blocks

Social Skills/Pragmatics:

• Engages in dialogues increasing in length
• Expresses emotion
• Provides descriptive details
• Becomes interested in cooperative play