Language Development Milestones to Watch For: A Guide for Parents
Watching your child learn to communicate is one of the most exciting parts of parenting. From those first adorable coos to full conversations, language development is a remarkable journey that happens rapidly in the early years. At Sorella Early Learning, we’re passionate about supporting children’s language and literacy development every single day.
Understanding the typical language development milestones can help you celebrate your child’s progress and identify when they might benefit from extra support. Here’s what to watch for at each stage.
Why Language Development Matters
Language is so much more than just speaking. It’s the foundation for:
- Social connections and building friendships
- Emotional expression and understanding feelings
- Cognitive development and thinking skills
- School readiness and future academic success
- Confidence and self-esteem
At Sorella, our programmes are guided by the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF), which recognises communication as one of the essential learning outcomes for all children from birth to five years.
Language Milestones by Age
👶 Birth to 6 Months: The Beginning
What to watch for:
- Coos and makes vowel sounds (“ooh”, “aah”)
- Responds to your voice by turning their head
- Makes different cries for different needs
- Smiles and laughs in response to interaction
- Begins to babble (around 4-6 months)
- Recognises familiar voices
How we support this at Sorella:
In our Nursery room (6 weeks – 2 years), our highly trained educators engage in constant, meaningful communication with babies—singing, reading, and narrating daily experiences. With our exceptional ratio of 4 children per educator, your bub receives the individualised attention essential for language foundations.
🍼 6 to 12 Months: Babbling and First Words
What to watch for:
- Babbles with intonation (sounds like they’re having a conversation!)
- Uses gestures like waving and pointing
- Responds to their name
- Understands simple words like “no” and “bye-bye”
- May say first words like “mama” or “dada” (around 10-12 months)
- Enjoys peek-a-boo and interactive games
- Turns to look at things you name
How we support this at Sorella:
Our educators model clear language, repeat sounds back to babies, and celebrate every communication attempt. We follow your baby’s home routines whilst introducing rich language experiences through songs, stories, and playful interactions.
🧸 12 to 18 Months: Word Explosion Begins
What to watch for:
- Vocabulary grows to 5-20 words
- Points to familiar objects when named
- Follows simple instructions (“Give me the ball”)
- Uses words to ask for things
- Shakes head for “no”
- Enjoys looking at picture books
- Attempts to imitate words
How we support this at Sorella:
We create a language-rich environment where toddlers are constantly exposed to new vocabulary through play, exploration, and daily routines. Our educators name objects, describe actions, and expand on children’s words to build their language skills naturally.
🎨 18 Months to 2 Years: Combining Words
What to watch for:
- Vocabulary of 50+ words by age 2
- Begins combining two words (“more milk”, “daddy gone”)
- Follows two-step instructions (“Pick up your cup and bring it here”)
- Names familiar people and objects
- Understands simple questions
- Enjoys singing simple songs
- Speech may not be completely clear yet (that’s normal!)
How we support this at Sorella:
In our Nursery and Junior Toddler programme (1-2 years), we nurture a setting that’s both nurturing and stimulating. Through play-based learning, children naturally develop their communication skills whilst building self-assurance and independence.
🚀 2 to 3 Years: Sentences Emerge
What to watch for:
- Vocabulary of 200-1000 words
- Uses 3-4 word sentences
- Asks “what” and “where” questions
- Uses pronouns (I, you, me)
- Follows 2-3 step instructions
- Strangers can understand about half of what they say
- Enjoys conversations and asks questions constantly
- Names colours and familiar objects
How we support this at Sorella:
Our Senior Toddler programme (2-3 years) facilitates learning and discovery through interest-based activities. We create activities that encourage investigation and exploration, naturally building vocabulary and communication skills as children learn about the world around them.
🌟 3 to 4 Years: Complex Communication
What to watch for:
- Vocabulary of 1000+ words
- Speaks in 4-5 word sentences
- Can tell simple stories
- Asks “why” questions frequently
- Uses past tense (though may make mistakes like “goed”)
- Speech is mostly clear to strangers
- Understands concepts like “same” and “different”
- Follows 3-step instructions easily
How we support this at Sorella:
In our Pre Kindy programme (3-4 years), we cultivate a nurturing and stimulating environment shaped by children’s interests. Our educators encourage independence, the cultivation of language, self-expression, and the development of fundamental social skills through meaningful conversations and intentional teaching moments.
📚 4 to 5 Years: School Readiness
What to watch for:
- Uses complex sentences with correct grammar
- Vocabulary of 2000+ words
- Tells detailed stories with a beginning, middle, and end
- Can explain rules of games
- Understands rhyming
- Recognises some letters and may begin writing their name
- Speech is completely clear
- Can have extended conversations on topics of interest
How we support this at Sorella:
Our Queensland Government Approved Kindergarten Programme (4-5 years) provides 15 hours of Free Kindy, delivered by a university-qualified Early Childhood Teacher. We focus on language and literacy development to ensure your child is confident and ready for their transition to school.
How You Can Support Language Development at Home
💬 Talk, Talk, Talk
Narrate your day! “Now we’re putting on your shoes. These are your blue shoes.” The more words your child hears, the richer their vocabulary becomes.
📖 Read Every Day
Even a few minutes of reading together builds vocabulary, comprehension, and a love of books. Let your child choose the books and ask questions about the pictures.
🎵 Sing Songs and Rhymes
Nursery rhymes teach rhythm, rhyme, and new vocabulary in a fun, memorable way. Don’t worry if you can’t sing—your child won’t mind!
👂 Listen and Respond
When your child tries to communicate, give them your full attention. Repeat back what they say correctly to model proper language without criticising.
❓ Ask Open-Ended Questions
Instead of “Did you have fun?”, try “What did you play today?” This encourages your child to use more words and think about their experiences.
🎭 Play Together
Imaginative play, like pretending to cook or care for dolls, creates natural opportunities for language development and storytelling.
📱 Limit Screen Time
Real conversations and interactions are far more beneficial for language development than passive screen time.
Language Development at Sorella Early Learning
At Sorella, language and literacy development is woven into every aspect of our day. From our Nursery room for babies (6 weeks – 2 years) right through to our Kindergarten programme (4-5 years), we:
Our unwavering mission is to cultivate a love of learning in each child, equipping them with the essential knowledge, skills, and experiences to seamlessly navigate their educational journey, and language is at the heart of this mission.
Ready to Give Your Child the Best Start?
If you’re looking for an early learning centre that prioritises communication, literacy, and language development within a nurturing, family-owned environment, we’d love to welcome you to Sorella.
Sorella Early Learning
📍 Address: 32 Tesch Rd, Griffin QLD 4503
📞 Phone: 07 2111 6711
🕐 Hours: 6:30am – 6:30pm, Monday to Friday
🌐 Website: sorellaearlylearning.com.au
Now enrolling for 2026! Contact us today to book a tour and see our language-rich programmes in action.
“Sorella Early Learning. High quality early learning, care and love, from our family to yours.”
