-
The first three years of a child's life are the most intensive periods of speech and language development. Mimi Haddon/Lifesize/Getty Images
Language is the product of a particular group's set of rules used to communicate thoughts, emotions and ideas, according to the National Institute of Health. A child's language development is highly personal and there is a wide margin for what is considered normal development. Although it is not necessary for a child to follow the phases of language development to a tee, children that seem particularly behind the guidelines should meet with a physician.
Infancy to Two Years
-
A child's language will start to emerge at approximately six months by vocalizing with intonation and understanding emotions behind tone of voice. At closer to a year old, children become aware of speech, can use a few words, practice inflection and understand basic instructions. In between one and two years the use of words greatly increases. Children will begin to respond to more complex commands and form their own commands and basic sentences. From 18 to 24 months the child's vocabulary should increase from approximately 10 words to about 200. New vocabulary should include the common items that the child sees or interacts with as well as a few verbs and prepositions. Language is self-centered at this time as the child begins to understand the concept of I, me, my and mine.
Three to Four Years
-
By age 3, about 90 percent of what a child says should be understood. Their vocabulary is approximately 950 words including verbs, a few more pronouns and prepositions. A 3-year-old can say basic facts about himself (name, sex and age) as well as say important body parts or describe them. Children who are 4 years old have more extensive verbalization and often narrate their daily activities. Socialization directly affects their vocabulary. Usually, 4-year-olds know animals, colors and common picture book items. They are able to repeat up to four digits or words up to four syllables. In fact, a common characteristic their speech patterns is constant repetition of sounds, words, phrases and syllables. Their pronunciation should be greatly improved with most vowels and diphthongs spoken correctly.
Five to Six Years
-
At age 5, children should be forming compound and complex sentences that are fairly grammatically correct. Grammar should have grown to include adverbs and adjectives, thus giving them the ability to describe an item's appearance and use. They should be able to properly pronounce all vowels and consonants. Concepts of time begin to develop both in terms of periods during the day and concepts of yesterday, tomorrow and a week. Speech may have articulation issues but should be essentially intelligible. At 6, pronunciation grows to include more difficult diphthongs. Their speech becomes what the Child Development Institute refers to as "socially useful." They are able to tell complex stories and explain relationships.
Seven to Eight Years
-
By age 7, language begins to translate to reading and writing as tools of communication. Children are able to use opposites and narrative terms to better express themselves and their experiences in discussions. Expressing increments of time and reading a clock becomes easier. At 8, all speech sounds should be mastered with few grammatical errors. This is the phase when voice control such as pitch, rate and volume are socially appropriate and controlled. An 8-year-old child should be able to carry a full conversation at a fairly adult level by being able to use and understand present, past and future tense.
No comments:
Post a Comment