Language at One & A Half: A Snapshot
Your young one has passed the first year of life and is now heading towards two years old. At 18 months, children usually begin to master the basics of communicating in English. These include:
Receptive Language (Understanding)
Understand up to 50 words and some short phrases.
Follow simple instructions like "throw the ball."
Identify familiar objects when named.
Point to pictures in books when asked.
Follows simple 1-step directions (e.g.,“Give me the doll” and “Come here please”).
Request, comment, and gain information using pointing.
Shakes head for “no” and nods head for “yes.”
Expressive Language (Using/Speaking)
Say 6 to 20 single words, becoming more consistent in their pronunciation.
Mimic many words and noises they hear.
Name a few body parts.
Use objects in pretend play (e.g., holding a toy phone and saying "hello").
Asked “where” questions (e.g., where is the dog?")
Understands and uses words for common people/places/things.
Uses gestures when excited (e.g., clapping, giving a high-five, etc.) or being silly (e.g., sticking out tongue, making silly faces, etc.)
Tips and Tricks To Encourage Language
Get face-to-face with your child when communicating to encourage engagement.
Use clear and simple language.
Encourage pretend play to stimulate language use.
Talk about sounds around your house (e.g. car makes v-v-v-v noises)
Talk to your child as you do things and go places.
Give your child two-step directions (e.g., “Get the doll, and put it in the toy box).
Use short words and sentences that your child can repeat. Add to words your child says.
Tell stories/read with your child each day. Look for books with large pictures and limited words on each page. Talk about the page pictures or things you see around you that are also in the book.
Ask your child to point to pictures/objects/colours/etc. that you name.
Ask your child to name pictures. It is okay if they do not answer at first. Just name the pictures for them as a model.
Please note the above information is general in nature and is not intended as professional medical advice. Please seek an appointment with a registered speech-language pathologist if you are at all worried about your child's development.
References:
At 18 months. (2024). Speech Pathology Australia. www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au. https://www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au/Public/Public/Comm-swallow/Speech-development/At-18-months.aspx
Communication Milestones: 13 to 18 Months. (2024). American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. https://www.asha.org/public/developmental-milestones/communication-milestones-13-to-18-months/