2.5 to 3 Years Communication Milestones

By the age of 2.5, a child should be able to demonstrate the following communication milestones:

RECEPTIVE COMMUNICATION:

• Understands the use of objects; for example:

•  Show what you use to cook food or Show me what you watch.

•  Show me what you can ride or Show me what you wear on your feet

•  Understands part/whole relationships, for example:

•  The wheel on the bike
•  The tail of the cat

•  Understands descriptive concepts, such as “big” “wet” and  “little”
•  Follows 2 step related and unrelated commands, without cues:

•  Get the cup and give it to me
•  Take off your coat and hang it up.

EXPRESSIVE COMMUNICATION:

•  Uses Plurals, such as “horses” or “blocks” or “babies.”

•  Combines 3+ words in spontaneous speech.
•  Answers “What” and “Who” Questions
•  Uses Verb + ing.

• For example, “The girl is playing.”

•  Uses a variety of nouns, verbs, modifiers and pronouns in spontaneous utterances.
• Uses prepositions
•  Understands the concepts of one vs. all. For example,

•  Give me just one block.

•  Put all of the blocks in the box.

PLAY:

•  Performs longer sequences of play activities

•  Acts out familiar routines

•  Pretends to perform the caregiver/parent routines.