Speech Development for Toddlers
24-36 Months

In speech development, most two-and-a-half-year olds can:

• Use 50+ words
• Answer questions
• Refer to self as "I" or "me"
• Communicate mostly with speech and shows frustration when misunderstood

In speech development, most three-year-olds can:

• Identify body parts
• Carry on a 'conversation' with self and dolls
• Ask "what's that?" And "where's my?"
• Use 2-word negative phrases such as "no want"
• Form some plurals by adding "s": book, books
• Speak 450 words
• Give first name, hold up fingers to tell age
• Combine nouns and verbs "mommy go"
• Understand simple time concepts: "last night", "tomorrow"
• Refer to self as "me" rather than by name
• Try to get adult attention: "watch me"
• Like to hear same story repeated
• Possibly say "no" when means "yes"
• Talk to other children as well as adults
• Solve problems by talking instead of hitting or crying
• Answer "where" questions
• Name common pictures and things
• Use short sentences like "me want more" or "me want cookie"
• Ask questions starting "when", "where" or "who"
• Be understood 80% of the time
• Use vocabulary of 200+ words
• Repeat five word sentences
• Can often make words into the plural  e.g. "She 'doed' this..."

Parenting Tips for Speech Skills

Suggested play to help with toddler speech development between 2 and 3:

• Take field trips. Your child will enjoy going to new places. This doesn't need to be expensive. For example, take a bus to a different part of town, walk by the big buildings, then sit on a bench and watch the buses and trucks drive by. Even better, see if you can find a construction site! Little boys and girls both love to watch back hoes in action.
  
• Make sock puppets. No need to make this an elaborate craft project. Simply put a sock over your hand and pretend to talk to your toddler. "I'm Suzy the sock. I love to keep your toes warm." Encourage your toddler to talk back (as him/herself, or as another sock).
  
• Sing songs. If you don't remember songs from your own childhood, go to the library and pick up a book with "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" or "Ba Ba Black Sheep." Your toddler will love to sing the song for someone else in the family.
  
• Wash a baby. Give your toddler a plastic tub and a plastic doll and have him/her wash the doll or, he/she can bring the doll into the tub. Name the doll parts as they are washed, You did a good job washing the baby's feet! Praise your child for taking such good care of his/her baby.
  
• What did I hear? Try this at night. When the house is quiet, listen with your child for interesting sounds. "What's that?" "Its the refrigerator motor." This is good to do on a summer night when you might hear crickets, wind chimes or a dog barking.
  
• Make a photo album. Fill this book with pictures of people and pets that your child knows. As your child is looking at the book, ask him/her to tell you a little bit about the people or pets that he/she sees.
  
• Play the forgetful game. You child will laugh when you give everyday household items silly names. Point to your child's bed and say, "I forget what this is. Is it a car?" Your child will enjoy telling you the real word. The sillier you are makes this even better!
  
• Read, pause and ask. When reading a book, take the time to stop and ask questions. Point to the illustrations and ask your toddler what they think will happen next.

Speech Skills by Age Group

• Speech Skills under 4 Months
• Speech Skills 4 to 8 Months
• Speech Skills 8 to 12 Months
• Speech Skills 12 to 24 Months
• Speech Skills 24 to 36 Months
• Speech Skills 36 to 48 Months
• Speech Skills 48 to 60 Months
• Articulation FAQ

Contact Information

Find Early Intervention Support contacts in your State. If you have a question or comment for us, please visit our Contact page.

Early Intervention Helps with Developmental Delay

For children with Special Needs, intervention in early childhood development means finding specific ways to help a child become as functional as possible.

Learn more on our Parenting Tips page.

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