Child Skills Speech Chart

Recognizes your voice and quiets if crying

Quiets or smiles when spoken to

Becomes startled to loud noises

Smiles when caregiver is seen

Uses different cries for different needs

Changes rate of sucking behavior in response to sound

Makes sounds of pleasure, such as cooing

Attends to music

Shifts eyes in the direction of sounds

Recognizes toys that make sounds

Responds to changes in tone of voice

Vocalizes when pleased and displeased

Laughs

Makes gurgling sounds when left alone and when in contact with others

Babbles with sounds such as p, b, m

Turns and looks in the direction of sound

Listen when spoken to

Enjoys games such as peek-a-boo and pat-a-cake

Recognizes words for common items, such as “cup”, “shoe”, “juice”

Starts to respond to requests, such as, “Come here”, “Want more?”

Babbling long and short groups of sounds, like, “tata upup bibibibi”

Responds to their name

Understands simple directions with gestures

Uses a variety of sounds

Plays social games like peek-a-boo

Says first word around this age

Uses a variety of sounds and gestures to communicate

Uses some simple words to communicate

Plays with different toys

Understands simple directions, such as, “Get the ball”

Understands several body parts

Attempts to imitate words you say

Uses at least 10-20 words

Uses pretend play, such as pretending to feed a baby doll

Uses at least 50 words

Recognizes pictures in books and listens to simple stories

Uses many different sounds at the beginning of words

Begins to make two word combinations, such as “Ball go” and “More milk”

Speech is understood by familiar listeners (mom, dad, teacher) most of the time

Understands differences in meaning (go v. stop, in v. on, big v. little, up v. down)

Combines 3 or more words into sentences, such as “Doggy go eat”, “I want juice please”,
“Where is daddy?”

Understands simple questions

Recognizes at least 2 colors

Understands descriptive concepts (big v. little, happy v. sad)

Uses sentences with 4 or more words

Talks about activities at school or at friends’ homes

People who are not a part of the family (unfamiliar listeners)
generally understand the child’s speech

Identifies colors

Compares objects

Answers questions logically

Explains how objects are used

Answers simple questions about a story, such as, “What is the boy doing?”

Voice sounds clear

Tells stories that stay on topic

Communicates with other children and adults

Says most sounds correctly

Can define some words

Uses prepositions (i.e. in, on, under, over, behind)

Understands more complex directions