Speech and Language Milestones: 3 year olds
How do I know if my child’s speech and language development is on track? What do most kids this age usually say?
As always, we are happy to chat on the phone for a free consultation if you have any questions about your child’s development. Schedule a call today!
Here are some basics to consider as you’re watching your child develop.
Intelligibility: Understanding Your Child's Speech
One of the key aspects of speech development in a three-year-old is intelligibility. Intelligibility refers to how much of a child's speech can be understood by others. By the age of three, a child should be approximately 75% intelligible to an unfamiliar listener in an unknown context. In other words, if your child walks up to an adult (not a family member, teacher, or babysitter) and starts talking to them, they should be able to understand 75% of what your child says.
If your child consistently drops the final sounds in words or is not using certain consonant sounds such as /m/, /p/, /b/, /t/, /d/, /n/, /h/, /w/, /k/, /g/, or /f/, it’s time for a speech assessment. There are many other articulation milestones we’ll look at in a comprehensive assessment.
Language Skills: the words your child says
At the age of three, children are learning to answer questions that are less concrete and require more complex thinking. They are beginning to understand and respond to "who," "where," "why," and "how" questions.
Three-year-olds are starting to communicate using sentences. At this age, a child typically uses around 1,000 words - in other words, too many to count! They should be making 3-word sentences on average. Hopefully they sometimes make 4-5 word sentences to balance out all of those one-word sentences they make.
By the age of three, children should also start demonstrating certain grammatical skills. These include using the "-ing" form of verbs in the present tense (e.g., "going"), understanding and using prepositions like "in" and "on," using plural "-s" (e.g., "cars"), using irregular past tense verbs (e.g., "fell" and "went"), and using possessive "-s" (e.g., "Mom's shoes").
At the age of three, most children engage in parallel play, where they play alongside their peers without much interaction.
Who can help?
Speech therapists are trained to assess and provide appropriate interventions for children with speech and language delays or disorders. We can provide personalized strategies, exercises, and activities to support your child's communication skills. Early intervention is crucial for the best possible outcomes, so don't hesitate to reach out for support from Juniper Therapies. We’re here to support you and your child.
Sources and additional resources:
https://www.asha.org/public/developmental-milestones/communication-milestones-3-to-4-years/
https://www.speechandlanguagekids.com/what-speech-and-language-skills-should-my-3-year-old-have/
https://therapyworks.com/blog/developmental-milestones/three-year-old-milestones/
