For families
Resources to support your child at home
Therapy doesn't stop when the session ends. These guides, milestones, and tips are here to help you feel informed and confident every day.
Speech & language milestones
What to expect at each age
Every child develops at their own pace, but these general milestones can help you know what's typical — and when it might be worth checking in.
- Says 1–3 words
- Understands 'no'
- Babbles with varied sounds
- Points to things they want
- Uses 10–20 words
- Points to body parts when asked
- Follows simple 1-step instructions
- Imitates words they hear
- Uses 50+ words
- Combines 2 words ('more milk')
- Strangers understand about 50% of speech
- Follows 2-step instructions
- Uses 3–4 word sentences
- Strangers understand about 75% of speech
- Asks 'why' and 'what' questions
- Tells simple stories
- Uses full sentences
- Speech is mostly clear to strangers
- Retells stories with beginning, middle, end
- Understands most of what is said to them
These milestones are general guidelines. If you have concerns about your child's development, a speech-language pathologist can give you a clearer picture.
Tips for parents
Simple ways to support language every day
Talk about everything
Narrate your day as you go — 'Now we're washing the dishes, the water is warm.' This builds vocabulary naturally without any pressure.
Follow their lead
Join in with whatever your child is interested in. Comment on what they're doing rather than directing them. This creates a relaxed space for communication.
Expand, don't correct
If your child says 'dog run', respond with 'Yes, the dog is running!' You're modelling the correct form without making them feel wrong.
Read together daily
Even 10 minutes of shared reading builds vocabulary, listening skills, and a love of language. Let your child choose the book.
Reduce screen time
Screens don't teach language the way real conversation does. Prioritise back-and-forth interaction, even if it's just chatting during a car ride.
Be patient with pauses
Give your child plenty of time to respond. Resist the urge to fill the silence — that pause is often where language is being processed.
Common questions
Things parents often ask
Still have questions?
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