Language development in children from 1 to 3 years old

A child's communication skills begin to emerge early in life. During their first 12 months, babies learn to communicate and discover the sounds of their language. They practice using them when they say "aaaa" and then "bababa." Little by little, they understand words and begin to speak.

Language learning between 1 and 3 years old

From 12 to 18 months

The toddler generally pronounces his first word between 12 and 16 months. The words he learns to say later usually refer to familiar people and objects. They are also often related to routines , such as “sleep” or “hello.”

At this age, the toddler is not yet able to combine words to indicate the things he sees and to express what he wants. Thus, one word can mean several things. For example, the word "encore" is often used in multiple contexts.

The toddler understands even more words than he says. He quickly learns the meaning of new words pointing to objects or actions that are found or take place in a familiar context. He understands simple instructions such as: “Come here.”

At this age, he is It is common for the child not to say new words every day. It's often necessary to wait until he uses about 50 words before his vocabulary progresses more quickly. It's also normal for him not to pronounce words clearly.

During this period, the child is able to recognize certain objects in a book and point to them if asked (e.g., if asked the question "Where is the cat?").

From 18 to 24 months

The toddler continues to develop his vocabulary. When he says several words designating people and objects, he begins to name actions (e.g.: eat, drink). Some sounds remain difficult to pronounce for him.

When the toddler is able to say several words, he begins to put them together to build two-word sentences, like: "Dad left." If he tries to make slightly longer word combinations, he often omits the small words (e.g., my, he, to), because these are difficult.

At this point, it is not uncommon for him to point to images in the books and that he names and comments a little on what he sees.

From 2 to 3 years old

At this age, the child learns to organize words in a certain order in order to make sentences. He often uses sentences of two or three words to express themselves, such as: "Daddy takes the ball," and to ask questions, such as: "Where is Mommy?" People who know the child well usually understand his "sentences."

The number of words a toddler understands and says continues to increase rapidly during this period. It takes a child less time than before to understand a new word and integrate it into their vocabulary.

He also begins to understand more abstract notions. For example, he knows the difference between "high" and "low" or "big" and "small." He is also able to follow two-step instructions, like: "Go get the ball and throw it to me."

During this period, the child also succeeds in better understand stories simple in books. He can also answer little questions that are asked as he reads. For example: "Where is mom?", "Who is there?" or "What is dad doing?"

By the age of 3, children usually pronounce several sounds correctly.

How to promote language development?

Here are some tips and activities to help develop your child's language skills.

From 1 to 2 years

• Listen to your child's communication signs. The sounds, the gestures, the smiles and the tears are all ways he uses to tell you something.
• Put into words what your child is trying to communicate. If he uses words, repeat what he says. and show him or give him the object he names when it is appropriate. For example, if he says the word milk , reply, "Yes, it's milk!" as you give him his glass. This tells him that you understand what he's saying and that you value it. He then discovers that his efforts to communicate are producing results.
• When you don't understand your toddler, try to understand what he wants to express by observing the context. For example, if he points outside and says "outside" while you are in the house, observe if there is something special outside or if he simply means he wants to go outside.

• Help your child understand you by articulating clearly and not speaking too quickly. However, avoid baby talk (e.g.: saying “kiki” for “biscuit”) and making incomplete sentences (e.g.: “Mom went to the store!”).
• Name what you see around you at home or when you go for a walk outside. (e.g., "It's a tree, a bird, a dog..."). Also name what he is pointing at or looking at with interest. Praise him when he repeats the word in question, but don't force him to do it.
• Enrich your vocabulary of your child by adding an element to what he expresses. For example, if he says the word apple , tell him, "Yes, a good apple!" Or, if he says "good apple," tell him, "Yes, you're eating a good apple." By adding words, you're teaching him how to use them.
• Comment often on what your child says. For example, if he says "big cat," reply, "Yes, it's a big black cat. You like cats!" This prepares him to use the words he knows to construct sentences, even if he can't do it on his own yet. It also makes him feel listened to and interesting.
• Offer your child books with simple, colorful illustrations depicting objects, people, or events that interest them. Label what you see in the pictures or tell the story in your own words. This helps your toddler learn the words. It's a good idea to set aside time to look at books with them, but you can also leave some out for them to flip through whenever they like.

From 2 to 3 years old

• Show your child that you are interested in what he or she says. and at the same time give him a model by repeating what he says or by lengthening his sentences.
• To start a discussion with your child, start with what he is doing. So, instead of talking to him about his day at daycare, observe his current play and talk to him about that (e.g.: “You’re making a big tower! Are you going to add more blocks?”).

• When you don't understand what your toddler is saying, try to figure it out by observing the context and focusing on what was clear. For example, if he said a short sentence and you only understood "cat," say, "You're talking about a cat! Where did you see it?"
• Help him build his vocabulary by talking to him, but also to understand the role of the things around him and to organize the world in his head. For example, show him a toothbrush and say: "This is a toothbrush. You brush your teeth with a toothbrush."
• Don't focus on your child's pronunciation, but on what he or she wants to tell you. So, if he didn't say a word correctly, don't mention it. Simply pronounce the word correctly. For example, instead of saying, "We say 'sssapin,' not 'tapin,'" you can respond, "Yes, you're right, it's a beautiful sssssapin!"
• Look at family photos together and use simple sentences to describe what is shown, such as: "It was Sarah's party." This will help him better understand his world and his place in it. You can also focus on the actions of the people in the photos: this will help him learn new verbs.
• Look at books with your toddler often that include stories close to his daily life (e.g., a book about a party, about the potty, etc.). Ask him questions about what is being told. Let him comment and ask you questions: this is how he will develop his language the most.

To remember

• A child usually begins to speak between 12 and 16 months.
• When your toddler has a larger vocabulary, he or she begins combining words. This often happens between 18 months and 2 years.
• To help your child develop their language, listen to their communication cues and repeat what they say correctly, adding words.

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