Late Talking
To determine if a child is a late talker, it is important to be aware of typical communication milestones. The following table outlines key speech and language development stages:
Speech and Language Milestones
At 12 MonthsChildren can usually:
| At 18 MonthsChildren can usually:
| At 2 YearsChildren can usually:
| At 3 YearsChildren can usually:
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How to identify the First Word?
| Most children start saying their first words around 12 months of age, though their pronunciation may not be the same as an adult’s. For example, they might say “do” for “dog” or “wa” for “water.” A word is considered a first word when a child consistently uses the same sound pattern to refer to a specific object. For instance, if they say “do” every time they see a dog, it is recognized as a word. |
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How can parents help at home?
Parents can encourage speech development by:
- Talking to their toddler frequently and narrating daily activities
- Using gestures alongside words to reinforce meaning
- Reading together and discussing pictures
- Singing simple songs and rhymes
- Allowing the child time to respond in conversations
- Providing opportunities to interact with other children
- Correcting mispronunciations gently by modelling correct speech