Speech development in children is very exciting for parents as they watch their children become social beings that can interact with others. While every child develops speech at their own rate, the following are some common milestones.
- Can say approximately 1,500 different words
- May put together four to five words into a sentence
- Will ask questions constantly
- May know one color or more
- Like to tell stories
- May use some "bad" words (if he / she has heard them spoken repeatedly)
- Can say approximately 2,000 words
- May put together six to eight words into a sentence
- May know four or more colors
- Know the days of the week and months
- Can understand commands with multiple instructions
- Talk frequently
What does my child understand?
As a child's vocabulary increases, so does their understanding and awareness of the world around them. Children at this age begin to understand concepts and can compare abstract ideas. While children may progress at different rates, the following are some of the common milestones.
- Become more aware of self and, as a result, believe that their own thoughts can make things happen
- May obey parent's rules, but does not understand right from wrong
- Have increased understanding of time
- Are curious about real facts about the world
- May compare rules of parents with that of friends
How does my child interact with others?
A very important part of growing up is the ability to interact and socialize with others. This can be a frustrating transition for the parent as children go through different stages, some of which are not always easy to handle. While every child is unique and will develop different personalities, the following are some common behavioral traits.
- Very independent, want to do things on their own
- Selfish, do not like to share
- Moody; mood swings are common
- May be aggressive during mood swings and become aggressive to family members
- Have a number of fears
- May have imaginary playmates
- Like to explore the body and may play doctor and nurse
- Fight with siblings
- Will often play with others in groups
- Generally more cooperative than 4-year-olds
- Generally more responsible than 4-year-olds
- Eager to please others and make them happy
- Have good manners
- Dress themselves completely without help
- Get along well with parents
- Like to cook and play sports
- As they enter school, they may become more attached to parent