Milestones

* Recognizes own name

* Listens when spoken to

* Understands simple instructions e.g. “put on your shoes”

* Responds to simple requests e.g. “give this to mummy”

* Understands common words when used with gestures e.g. “bye-bye”

* Recognizes words as symbols for objects e.g. cat – meows

* Laughs and may try to sing along with the TV or the radio

* Imitates familiar words

* Uses speech intentionally for the first time

* Uses nouns most exclusively

* Says 2 – 3 words besides “mama” and “dada”

* Uses speech to get attention rather than relying only on crying

* Able to play turn-taking games, can play ball with a partner

Warning Signs

* Is your child unresponsive?

* Does your child babble very little?

Activities to Encourage your Child’s Speech and Language

* Respond to your child’s babbling.

* Expose your child to a variety of sounds like humming, popping your cheek and clicking your tongue. This encourages him to explore his tongue and mouth.

* Let your child play with whistles, harmonicas.

* Talk to your child as you care for him throughout the day

* Read colourful books to your child every day, by turning the pages and naming pictures. Create your own book using photo albums and inserting pictures

* Sing songs and nursery rhymes to your child

* Teach your child the names of everyday items and familiar people

* Take your child to new places and situations. Use this opportunity to talk to him.

* Play simple games with your child like “peek-a-boo”. Teach your child “in” and “out”, “on top” and “below”. Use a shoe-box or a pillow-case and put his favourite toy in the shoe-box/pillow-case.

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• Article Courtesy of Isabel Tan Cjinh Ping, Senior Speech Therapist
• Bachelor of Speech Pathology, University of Queensland, Australia (1999)
• Public Service Commission Scholarship Awardee 1995