Milestones: What to Expect in Your Child’s Speech and Language

Watching your little one learn to talk is such a joy — and sometimes a little nerve-wracking! It’s completely normal to wonder, “Is my child on track?”

Every child develops at their own pace, but there are some general milestones you can keep an eye on. They’ll help you celebrate progress and notice when a bit of extra support might be helpful.

👶 Key Milestones to Keep in Mind

• Around 6 months: Your baby is cooing and babbling, reacting to sounds, and enjoying simple interactions with you.

• Around 9 months: Babbling gets more varied, they may recognise their name, wave, reach, and join in simple turn-taking games.

• Around 12 months: First words start to appear, they understand simple instructions, and respond to familiar words or questions.

• Around 18 months: Vocabulary grows quickly, two-word phrases start, and they can follow simple directions.

• Around 2 years: Short sentences begin, they understand more complex instructions, and gestures or pointing are used to communicate.

• Around 3–4 years: Longer sentences appear, kids can tell little stories, understand concepts like “under” or “next to,” and express ideas more clearly.

• Around 4–5 years: Speech is mostly clear to strangers, they can ask and answer questions, and use language for lots of purposes — describing, explaining, or requesting.

Tip: These milestones are just a guide — each child grows at their own pace, and reaching them a little earlier or later is perfectly normal!

🏡 How You Can Help at Home

Parents play a huge role in supporting speech and language growth. Some easy ways to help:

• Talk throughout the day: Describe what’s happening as you go about your routines.

• Read together: Even a few minutes of storytime or picture books makes a big difference.

• Sing and play: Songs, rhymes, or simple word games make learning fun.

• Celebrate attempts: Every time your child tries to speak, cheer them on — confidence is just as important as words!

Even little, everyday moments help children practice and grow their communication skills.

🌟 Why Early Support Matters

If you notice your child is struggling with these milestones — or if you’re just unsure — getting help early can make a real difference. Early guidance helps children communicate confidently, build friendships, and enjoy learning.

At Therapea Health, we provide personalised speech therapy in Werribee. Whether you’d like to visit our clinic, or connect online via telehealth, we’ll make it easy and convenient for your family.

📧 Reach out to us at hello@therapea.com.au to chat or book an assessment.

I’m here to help your child grow strong communication skills — step by step, word by word!         Fathima                                                                                                              

Speech and Language Therapist