Developmental Milestone: Talking

Talking: What to Expect When
By age 3, your child should have a vocabulary of around 300 to 500 words. And by age 4, he may know a whopping 1,500 words or more, though the vocabulary that preschoolers use varies widely. He'll also be able to speak in sentences of six to eight words and mimic most adult sounds. A preschooler's speech should be clear enough that strangers can make sense of most of what he says, though he may still mispronounce many words. At this age, he should be able to understand a two- or three-part directive, such as "Pick up the paper, fold it in half, and then bring it to me."

What You'll Hear
Pronunciation: At age 3, your child may still struggle with certain consonant sounds, such as using a /w/ sound for /r/ or /d/ for /th/. Don't worry; certain consonant sounds are tough for a preschooler to pronounce. Click here to visit the blog post "Normal Speech Development: When Should I Expect My Child to Talk?"

Lisping: Your child may also lisp or pronounce the s sound like a th. Many children lisp, and most outgrow it with no intervention by age 7.

Stuttering: While it can cause parents concern, stuttering at this age is a normal developmental phase that many children go through. Your child is in the midst of a great leap in his language skills, so it's natural that he may have some difficulty putting his sentences together fluently. Find more aout stuttering here.

What You Can Do
Reading to your child is a great way to boost his language skills. Books help a child add words to his vocabulary, make sense of grammar, and link meanings to pictures. Simply talking with your child also helps. When your preschooler doesn't know the word for something, he'll probably ask, "What's this?" That's your cue for helping him expand his vocabulary, including adding on words that he may not have asked for. You can also help him find words to describe objects and ideas he can't see. For instance, if he's trying to tell you about a nightmare involving a witch, ask him whether the witch is wicked or kind. Then have him describe what she wears, what she does, and whether she's good at riding a broomstick. This word game can serve two purposes: Your child can express his feelings and fears as well as increase his vocabulary.

Your preschooler may still get stumped by pronouns, such as "I," "me," and "mine." While the words are easy to say, the ideas behind them can be hard for a youngster to grasp. So resist the urge to correct your child's speech when he misuses a pronoun. Instead, model the correct use of these tricky words in your own speech. For instance, say: "I would like your help" instead of "Mama would like your help."

What to Watch Out For
If your child doesn't talk, says few words, and doesn't seem interested in communicating or expressing his feelings, seek help. A child who pauses frequently, constantly struggles to get words out, or simply gives up and says "never mind" a lot is also letting you know something is wrong. A preschooler who drools when he mispronounces words may have a physical component to his speech difficulties and may need professional help. And a child who has a history of ear infections along with pronunciation problems may have some hearing loss. If you have any concerns about your child's speech and language, seek help from a certified Speech-Language Pathologist. Visit: www.pediaspeech.com or any local certified Speech-Language Pathologist.

What's Ahead
Children in kindergarten speak in smooth sentences, and words pop out easily with no apparent effort. At this age your child should also be able to comfortably tell you what happened, describe people, and ask questions clearly. He'll make up stories, explain what you do with common objects, and recount events that took place in the past with accurate detail. At school, he'll start to figure out the finer points of grammar, punctuation, and word usage.

Worried about your child's speech? Visit www.pediaspeech.com or find a local certified Speech-Language Pathologist.

Source: babycenter.com