Key Takeaways
- Children develop communication skills in a generally predictable way, from early sounds through to complex conversations.
- Everyday interactions such as talking, reading and playing together help support language development.
- While every child develops differently, understanding these broad stages can help parents recognise how communication skills grow over time.
Language Development Is a Journey
One of the most exciting parts of watching a child grow is seeing how their communication skills develop.
Language development does not happen overnight. Children gradually move from cries and gestures to words, sentences, storytelling and complex conversations. While every child develops at their own pace, communication skills generally build in a predictable way over time.
The stages below provide a simple way to understand how language skills often develop from infancy through to later childhood. The ages listed are general guides only. Children develop at different rates, and communication skills often overlap across stages.
Understanding these stages can help parents feel more confident supporting communication at home and recognising the many small steps that happen before fluent conversation.
If you would like to learn more about how communication skills develop and how speech therapy can help, read our Speech Therapy for Children: A Parent Guide.
- Stage 1: Early Communication (0–12 Months)
- Stage 2: First Words (12–18 Months)
- Stage 3: Combining Words (18–24 Months)
- Stage 4: Early Sentences (2–3 Years)
- Stage 5: Building More Complex Language (3–5 Years)
- Stage 6: Refining Language Skills (5–7 Years)
- Stage 7: Advanced Communication (7+ Years)
- Every Child Develops Differently
- When Might Speech Therapy Be Helpful?
- Supporting Your Child’s Communication Journey
Stage 1: Early Communication (0–12 Months)
Before children use words, they are already communicating.
During the first year of life, babies often communicate through:
- Crying
- Eye contact
- Facial expressions
- Gestures
- Cooing and babbling
By around six months, many babies begin experimenting with sounds such as “ba-ba” and “da-da”. These early sounds help build the foundations for later speech and language development.
How Parents Can Support This Stage
- Talk to your baby throughout the day
- Respond to their sounds and facial expressions
- Sing songs and nursery rhymes
- Read books together
Stage 2: First Words (12–18 Months)
Around their first birthday, many children begin using their first meaningful words.
These might include:
- Mum
- Dad
- Ball
- Dog
- More
Children are also learning that words have meaning and can be used to communicate wants, needs and interests.
How Parents Can Support This Stage
- Name familiar objects and people
- Read simple picture books
- Repeat words often
- Celebrate communication attempts
Stage 3: Combining Words (18–24 Months)
As vocabulary grows, many children begin combining words into short phrases.
Examples might include:
- More milk
- Big dog
- Mummy up
- Daddy go
These early combinations show children are beginning to understand how words work together to express ideas.
How Parents Can Support This Stage
- Expand on your child’s phrases
- Model slightly longer sentences
- Follow their interests during play
- Give opportunities for turn-taking in conversation
Stage 4: Early Sentences (2–3 Years)
Between two and three years, many children begin using short sentences and asking simple questions.
You may hear:
- I want juice
- Where Daddy go?
- Look at my truck
Vocabulary often grows rapidly during this period as children learn new words through play, books and everyday experiences.
How Parents Can Support This Stage
- Have conversations during daily routines
- Read together every day
- Encourage pretend play
- Give children time to respond
Stage 5: Building More Complex Language (3–5 Years)
During the preschool years, children often begin using more detailed language.
They may:
- Tell simple stories
- Describe past events
- Explain their ideas
- Follow longer instructions
- Use words such as because, and, then and after
These communication skills help prepare children for learning, friendships and participation in everyday activities.
As children approach school age, we may also begin paying closer attention to speech clarity. If a child’s speech is difficult for unfamiliar people to understand, or they continue making speech sound errors that impact communication, additional support may be helpful.
How Parents Can Support This Stage
- Encourage storytelling
- Ask open-ended questions
- Play pretend games together
- Read books and discuss what happens in the story
Stage 6: Refining Language Skills (5–7 Years)
As children begin school, their language skills continue to develop.
They often improve at:
- Explaining their thinking
- Following classroom instructions
- Learning new vocabulary
- Participating in group discussions
- Understanding more complex stories
Reading and writing also play an increasingly important role in language development during this stage.
How Parents Can Support This Stage
- Read together regularly
- Talk about school experiences
- Encourage questions and curiosity
- Discuss books, movies and everyday events
Stage 7: Advanced Communication (7+ Years)
Older children continue developing increasingly sophisticated communication skills.
They may learn to:
- Understand humour and jokes
- Use figurative language
- Explain opinions
- Solve problems through discussion
- Adapt communication for different situations
Language development continues throughout childhood and adolescence as children encounter new experiences, relationships and learning opportunities.
How Parents Can Support This Stage
- Encourage meaningful conversations
- Discuss different perspectives
- Explore books together
- Support interests that encourage communication and learning
Every Child Develops Differently
While communication skills often develop in a similar sequence, children develop at different rates.
Some children may move quickly through one stage and spend longer in another. Factors such as personality, interests, experiences and opportunities for interaction can all influence how communication skills develop.
The stages above are intended as a general guide rather than a checklist. Children do not always progress smoothly from one stage to the next, and there is often overlap between stages.
If you’re wondering whether your child’s communication skills are developing as expected, our guide Is My Child on Track? When to Monitor, When to Seek Support and What to Do Next explains what to look for across different stages of development and when it may be helpful to seek professional advice.
When Might Speech Therapy Be Helpful?
Sometimes children benefit from additional support as their communication skills develop.
If you have questions about your child’s speech, language or communication, speaking with a speech pathologist can provide guidance and reassurance.
You can also read our article When Should Speech Therapy Start? to learn more about common signs that additional support may be helpful.
Supporting Your Child’s Communication Journey
Language development is built through thousands of everyday interactions.
Talking together, reading books, playing, singing songs and sharing experiences all assist children build communication skills over time.
Every child follows their own path and understanding how communication skills typically develop can assist parents feel more confident supporting that journey along the way.
If you would like support with your child’s communication skills, the team at Happy Chatter is here to help.