2 Year Old Speech Milestones
During the first two years of a child’s life, an incredible amount of development and learning occurs. Before their second birthday, many children will have mastered skills such as walking, eating independently, getting dressed without help, learning to use a potty, and, of course, the development of communication skills. When discussing developmental milestones, it is always important to note that children develop these skills at different rates and orders, and with varying needs for additional support. As a parent or caregiver for a young child, being aware of the various developmental milestones for this age can be helpful to track the child’s progress and identify where extra support may be needed.
If you are interested in learning more about how speech therapy might benefit your child or are ready to start your child’s speech therapy journey, contact us to schedule your free introductory call today!
Early Childhood Communication Milestones
By the age of 24 months, a 2-year-old should meet (or be close to meeting) the following speech milestones:
Can Produce Short Sentences of 2 - 4 Words (for example, “I’m thirsty” or “Let’s go outside”
Has a Vocabulary of at Least 50 Words
Can Follow Simple Instructions (such as “Bring me the ball” or “Put on your hat”)
Will Initiate Conversations with Familiar People
Appears Excited when Interacting with Peers
Finds Familiar Objects within a Room
Will Name Specific Objects
Responds to their Name
Parents and other Familiar Adults Can Understand at Least Half of their Speech
Can Answer Simple Questions (such as “Where are your toes?”)
Will Take Turns During Play
Failing to reach all of these milestones by their second birthday does not automatically mean that the child has a speech delay or another condition affecting communication or development. Many children focus on mastering physical skills, while others will focus on communication at this age. Watching the child as they play and explore the world around them can help inform parents of how their child learns and engages, as well as identify where they may be struggling or in need of extra support. If you have concerns about your child’s speech and language development, it is important to get the help of a speech therapist as soon as possible. Schedule your free introductory call today to get started!
When Should I Be Concerned about my 2-year-old’s Speech?
Because each child’s development is unique, and learning isn’t always linear, the milestones listed above should be used as guidelines and not as a way to diagnose certain speech or language disorders. If you are feeling concerned or unsure about your child’s communication skills and progress, make an appointment with your child’s doctor to express your concerns.
If your child has not begun to speak at all by the age of 2, this can be cause for some concern and may indicate a speech delay, developmental condition, or learning disability. Seeking help as soon as these concerns arise allows your child to benefit from early intervention, which offers the best outcome for young children learning to communicate.
Some of the most common signs that could be cause for concern include:
The child uses only a few sounds or words
They frequently repeat the same sounds or words
They are only able to imitate or mimic the speech of others and don’t produce speech independently or spontaneously
The child struggles to follow simple instructions or respond to basic requests
Your child’s doctor should be conducting developmental and behavioral screenings at all wellness visits, particularly at ages 9 months, 18 months, and 24 months. These screening tools are used to identify whether a child is on track with their development and are not used to reach a true diagnosis.
Language Development Activities for 2-Year-Olds
Parents, siblings, loved ones, and caregivers can all play an important role in encouraging the development of strong communication skills in young children. Some of the best language development activities for 2-year-olds include:
Playing Games: Playing simple games with your toddler is a fun and interactive way to work on language skills. Try playing “Name that thing!” in which you point to various objects and encourage your child to name the object. You can also try making various animal noises and ask your child to identify and name which animals make which noise. These simple games introduce basic language concepts and encourage social skills such as taking turns and working collaboratively.
Reading Together: Studies have shown that one of the most significant factors when it comes to speech and language development in toddlers is how often they are read to. Make reading a part of your daily routine, allow your child to select books from a local library, and make time to sit quietly and read together. You can also make looking at picture books into a game by asking, “Can you point to the cat?” or re-telling the story together once you’ve finished.
Play With Toys: You may be wondering how playing with toys helps with language development, and the answer is - in many different ways! Playing with puppets, dolls, or figures in a pretend way provides your child opportunities to practice simple conversation skills, use their imagination, expand their vocabulary, and explore social communication. Playing with building blocks can help introduce concepts such as “on top,” “beside,” and “underneath.” You can also count the blocks, sort them by colors, or create different shapes, introducing basic categorization skills.
Talk to Your Child: This may seem obvious, but you’d be surprised how many parents don’t recognize the value of speaking to your child, even when they seem too young to understand you. By simply narrating a task as you do it, naming objects or actions, or making a list for the grocery store, all of these everyday activities promote language development and encourage communication in your toddler.
Online Speech Therapy for Toddlers
Online speech therapy for toddlers involves a comprehensive evaluation process to identify your child’s specific challenges, strengths, learning styles, and communication goals. This evaluation will also inform whether a specific disorder is at play. Once the evaluation has been completed, your child’s speech and language pathologist will develop a tailored treatment approach to target the areas of communication that are particularly challenging.
Virtual speech therapy for toddlers has been shown to be as effective as traditional in-person speech therapy, without the added hassles of traveling to the clinic, finding parking, and sitting in waiting rooms. Your child can receive all the benefits of speech therapy from the comfort of their home, making it a more appealing and engaging option.
Don’t wait to get your child started on the path to strong communication skill; simplyy schedule your free introductory call today!