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12-15 Months Receptive and Expressive Language SkillsLanguage your child understands12-15MonthsHow your child expressesthoughts/feelingsYour child will point to self on request.Your child will use a single sign/word agesture/point.Your child will follow one-step directions.Your child will imitate new signs/words.Your child will identify pictures/objects onrequest.Your child will begin to answer where and whatquestions.ASLYour child will recognizetheir own name sign.Your child will recognizethe name signs of familymembers.Spoken EnglishYour child willunderstand new words.ASLYour child will use namesigns to refer to others.Your child will search for Your child will sign wantsobjects named verbally(e.g., SLEEPY, HU NGRY,that are not in the room. THIRSTY)Your child will identifyan object from a group.Your child will producesigns that have thesimple handshapes of C,A, S, 1, 5.Spoken EnglishYour child will continueto use jargon with moretrue words developing.Your child will use up to7 spoken words all thetime.Your child will pauseand use intonation whenproducing jargon.Your child will useYour child will producegestures to communicate early consonants: b, m,(e.g., COME HER E).n, t, d, w.M-12

12-15 Months Social and Print SkillsYour Child’s Social and Play SkillsYour child will imitate actions of others.Your Child’s Print SkillsYour child will scribble with a crayon or pencil.Your child will take turns as language develops.Your child will involve others by showing things during play.Your child will use pointing, reaching, and single words torequest.Your child will begin to use signs/words to request a turn(my-turn, “mine”).Build on what your child says. Ifthey say/sign “ball,” you can say,“That’s your big, red ball” orsign, BALL (big) RED, YOUR. JDHKM-13

15-18 Months Receptive and Expressive Language Skills15-18MonthsLanguage your child understandsHow your child expressesthoughts/feelingsYour child will follow single step directions.Your child will respond to simple commands(e.g., “sit down” COME-HERE).Your child will find familiar objects out of sight.Your child will imitate signs/words.Your child will identify some clothing, toys, andfood.Your child will use at least 10 meaningfulsigns/words.Your child will respond to yes/no questions withhead nod/shake.Your child will say/sign functional words (e.g.,no, more, mine).Your child will identify objects and actions inpictures.ASL JDHKYour child will recognizethe name signs of familymembers.Spoken EnglishYour child will respondto simple requests forclarification.ASLSpoken EnglishYour child will usegestures to express.Your child will beginreplacing gestures withthe use of words orword-like sounds.Your child will identifyYour child will identifyfamiliar pictures, animals,some body parts.and objects in the roomupon request.Your child will form thefirst ASL signs usingsimple handshapes C, A,S ,1, 5 clearly.Your child will make thesame sound in referenceto a picture in a familiarbook.Your child will answerWHER E, WHAT questionsabout items in the room.Your child will sign 2word phrases (e.g., EATMORE).Your child will verballyrequest and protestYour child will repeatwhat others sign.Your child will initiateverbal turns.Your child will developcategory vocabulary(e.g., dishes, toys).M-14

15-18 Months Social and Print SkillsYour Child’s Social and Play SkillsYour Child’s Print SkillsYour child will prefer to be with familiar people.Your child will carry a book.Your child will show caution with strangers.Your child will hold a book with help and attempt to turnpages, usually several at a time.Your child will imitate other children.Your child will turn the book right-side-up.Your child will repeat what was just said/signed.Your child will point to a picture in a book when asked"Where's the?"Your child will use language to get attention. J D H KWhen your child points at orgives you something, talkabout the object. You can say,“You gave me the book. Thankyou! Look at the picture of thebaby rolling the ball” or sign,BOOK, you-GIVE-me. THANKYOU. PICTURE, LOOK BABYBALL ROLL.M-15

18-24 Months Receptive and Expressive Language SkillsLanguage your child understands18-24MonthsHow your child expressesthoughts/feelingsYour child will complete two requests with oneobject.Your child will attempt to tell stories aboutexperiences.Your child will choose two familiar objects onrequest.Your child will use I, you, and mine, but stillsometimes refer to self by name.Your child will understand 250-500 signs/words(by 24 months).Your child will ask where and what questions.Your child will understand personal pronouns(e.g., my, mine, you, your).Your child will use 2-word phrases with nouns,some verbs, and some describing words (by 24months).Your child will follow 2-step related commandson request (by 24 months).Your child will independently say or signbetween 150-300 signs/words (by 24 months).ASLSpoken EnglishASLYour child will useYour child will imitate theYour child will point to at classifiers (CL) toactions or faces of peopleleast 5 body parts.describe things (e.g., CL:in a story.F for SPOTS).Your child will answerquestions (e.g., WHO,WHICH, FOR FOR).Your child will listen tosimple stories.Spoken EnglishYour child will engage inword and sound playwith adults.Your child will use nonmanual markers(e.g., raised eyebrows,squints).Your child's singlesyllable words with earlydeveloping sounds willbe understood 50% ofthe time.Your child willuse headshake signfor negation.Your child willsometimes use the wordendings –ing and –s.Your child will uselexicalized signs(e.g., #BUS, #ICE).Your child will use thewords in, on, and up.M-16

18-24 Months Social and Print SkillsYour Child’s Social and PlaySkillsYour Child’s Print SkillsReadingWritingYour child will take 1-2 turns in aconversation.Your child will tell the differencebetween words and pictures.Your child will imitate drawing marksor scribbling.Your child will use language to requesthelp.Your child will explore drawing,Your child will bring a book to an adultpainting, and writing as a way toto read.communicate.Your child will initiate pretend play.Your child will look at a book aloneand pretend to read familiar books.Your child will tell about past eventsand future actions.Your child will attend to pictures andwritten text for several minutes.Your child will request information(e.g., What is this?).With adult support, your child willrespond to simple questions about afamiliar story.M-17

24-30 Months Receptive and Expressive Language SkillsLanguage your child understands24-30MonthsHow your child expressesthoughts/feelingsYour child will understand big and little.Your child will use 2-3-word phrases consistently.Your child will understand present and future(e.g., today, tomorrow).Your child will have a vocabulary range of over250 signs/words.Your child will understand quantity (e.g., one,all).Your child will ask and answer simple whquestions (e.g., what? who? where?).Your child will understand connectedlanguage.Your child will refer to self with pronouns (e.g., I,me).Your child will use negation (e.g., don't like, don'tknow, no).ASLASLSpoken EnglishYour child will recognizeown name when fingerspelled.Your child will identifyobjects by theirfunctions.Your child will answerquestions by combiningan object and a verb(e.g., FROG JUMP).Your child will useYour child will repeat adescriptive classifiers(CL)4-5-word sentence.(CL:O, CL:3).Your child will use NOTYET.Your child willuse handshapes: B, F, O.Your child will usepronouns andpossessives (HE, SHE, IT,MY, YOU R, HIS, HERS).Spoken EnglishYour child will saysentences that youunderstand 50-70% of thetime.Your child will use words todescribe pictures or objects(e.g., big book, threecookies).Your child will use -ingverbs and possessive –s.Your child will useprepositions inand on.M-18

24-30 Months Social and Print SkillsYour Child’s Social and PlaySkillsYour child will use language more inplay (e.g., pretend to chat on thephone/text/videophone).Your Child’s Print SkillsReadingWritingYour child will recognize and identifya few letters in context (e.g., the firstletter of their name).Your child will engage in parallel playYour child will recognize familiar(e.g., play beside other children usingbooks by their cover.the same toys but not with the children).Your child will share toys and joingames.Your child will recite parts of wellknown stories and songs.Your child will complete actions (e.g.,give me five).Your child will hold books with twohands and turn the pages one by one.Your child will tell their own age.Your child will answer simplequestions about a story.Ask your child totell you the storythat goes with afavorite book. “Tellme about themouse and thecookie.” Readinghelps languagedevelopment.M-19

30-36 Months Receptive and Expressive Language SkillsLanguage your child understands30-36MonthsHow your child expressesthoughts/feelingsYour child will answer what, who, where andwhat doing questions (e.g., pet name, siblingname, name objects, name actions).Your child will use 3-4-word simple sentencesand questions.Your child will carry out 2-3 signed/verbalcommands.Your child will use question forms of yes/no,who, what, where, and when.Your child will understand yesterday.Your child will use simple descriptors (e.g., hot,cold, big, little).Your child will understand descriptive words.Your child will use commands with two steps.Your child will identify parts of an object.Your child will use negatives (e.g., don't like,don't know, not yet).ASLYour child will understandfamiliar simple fingerspelled words.Spoken EnglishASLYour child will understandspatial concepts (e.g., in,on, under).Your child will use emotionsigns (e.g., SAD, HAPPY,SCARED).Your child will usequantity words (e.g.,something, nothing,none).Your child will understandcategories.Your child will substitutesimple handshapes formore complex handshapes(e.g., CL:5 in place of CL:W for WATER).Your child will useunstressed words/sounds(e.g., plural –s, is).Your child will repeat 3numbers in a sequence,and/or a sentence of 6-7words.Your child will useclassifier(CL) CL:3 (e.g.,CAR DRIVING FORWARD)Your child will use spokenlanguage that ev ery oneunderstands 75% of thetime.Your child will use simple,descriptiv e classifier(CL)CL:O (e.g., for pole).Your child will use at least2 adv erbs (e.g., fast,slowly , abov e, next to).Spoken EnglishM-20

30-36 Months Social and Print SkillsYour Child’s Social and PlaySkillsYour child will take turns, share, and askpermission of others.Your Child’s Print SkillsReadingWritingYour child will recognize and identifysome letters in context.Your child will imitate simple linesand shapes with a crayon.Your child will engage in make-believeactivities.Your child will recognize that symbolshave meaning (e.g., the golden archessymbolizes McDonald’s).Your child will tell a story for anadult to write .Your child will express feelings (e.g.,mad, happy, sad, scared).Your child will recognize familiarbooks by their cover.Your child will begin to give directions(e.g., You do it, Don't touch it).Your child will recite parts of wellknown stories, songs, and nurseryrhymes.Your child will use questions to getinformation and request clarification.Your child will tell a story frompictures.M-21

36-42 Months Receptive and Expressive Language SkillsLanguage your child understands36-42MonthsHow your child expressesthoughts/feelingsYour child will name an object when given thefunction (e.g., What do you see with?).Your child will describe what for objects are usedfor and identify items that do not belong.Your child will understand quality, texture, andquantity (e.g., nice, rough, smooth, some).Your child will ask when, how many, and whoquestions.Your child will begin to understand concepts(e.g., full, empty, some, same/different,day/night).Your child will answer how many, who, whose,why, what if, and what is missing questions.Your child will correctly answer questions abouta signed-/spoken-only message.Your child will use 5-6 sign/word sentences.Your child will understand 900 words.ASLYour child will begin tounderstand part/wholerelationships (e.g.,ARM/BODY).Spoken EnglishYour child will follow 2-3step unrelated spokencommands.ASLSpoken EnglishYour child will use TWOOF-US, THREE-OF-US.Your child will talk usingmany grammaticalstructures (e.g., plurals,pronouns, prepositions,adjectives, presentprogressive – ing).Your child will begin touse plain verbs to connectsubject and object (e.g.,HE LIKE ICE-CR EAM).Your child will combinesentences using and,but, because.Your child will use verbmodification (e.g.,STROLLING, WALKINGQU ICKLY).Your child will use pastmodals (e.g., could,would, should, must,might).Your child will usetopicalization (e.g.,POPCORN, ME LIKE).Your child will use do toask yes/no questions.M-22

36-42 Months Social and Print SkillsYour Child’s Social and PlaySkillsYour Child’s Print SkillsReadingYour child will take 4-5 turns duringconversation.Your child will identify some uppercaseand lower-case letters.Your child will relay a message.Your child will respond to stories readaloud to a group.Your child will show understanding ofothers' feelings and needs.Your child will attend to a 10-15 minutestory.Your child will make conversationalrepairs.Your child will answer some questionsabout a story.Your child will enjoy role-playing withothers.With adult support, your child will beginto retell familiar stories.WritingYour child will draw or copy twolines that cross ( ).Join yourchild’spretend playgames.M-23

42-48 Months Receptive and Expressive Language SkillsLanguage your child understandsYour child will understand the differencebetween past/present/future and singular/plural.42-48MonthsHow your child expressesthoughts/feelingsYour child will use How much? and How?questions.Your child will understand opposites (e.g.,cold/hot, big/little).Your child will provide a label when given achild-friendly definition of a familiar word (e.g.,What is round and bounces? . a ball).Your child will carry out 3 related commands inorder.Your child will use associations andcomparisons.Your child will recognize language absurdities(e.g., there's an elephant on your head).Your child will use some basic qualitativeconcepts (e.g., wet, dry, hot, cold) andquantitative concepts (e.g., more, less, full).Your child will understand 1,500-2,000signs/words.Your child will use 800-1500 words.ASLSpoken EnglishASLSpoken EnglishYour child willunderstandquantity (e.g., FU LL,EMPTY, SOME).Your child will answerfinal word analogies(e.g., cow is to farm asgiraffe is to ).Your child willfingerspell own nameon request.Your child will usenegative modals (e.g.,shouldn't, won't, can’t).Your child willanswer questions: HOW,WHY, DO-DO.Your child willunderstand -er and -estendings.Your child willshow increased useof topicalization (e.g.,BALL, BOY THROW).Your child will use regularand irregular past tenseand third person singular–s verbs.Your child will useYour child will use articlescomplex handshapes:W, D, P, 3, V, H, X, R, M, a and the.N, T, 8.Your child will beunderstood by everyone.M-24

42-48 Months Social and Print SkillsYour Child’s Social and PlaySkillsYour Child’s Print SkillsReadingWritingYour child will follow topic changes andadd comments without changing thesubject.Your child will understand that booksare made up of written words.Your child will draw pictures youcan recognize.Your child will use language to get andgive details, tell needs/feelings, andmake deals.Your child will interact with books readaloud to a group.Your child will draw pictures ofpeople that have at least three parts(e.g., head, eyes, nose, arms, legs).Your child will create and maintainworlds of make-believe.Your child will hold books right-side-upand turn pages left to right .Your child will print a few letters ornumbers.Your child will ask or respond toquestions for clarification.Your child will answer questions about astory.Your child will work in a small group for10-15 minutes.Your child will retell familiar stories.Think about includingsocial skills or socialstories for your dailyreading. One resource ishttps://www.juliacookonline.com/M-25

4-5 Years Receptive and Expressive Language SkillsLanguage your child understandsYour child will answer questions (e.g., whathappened, why, how).4-5YearsHow your child expressesthoughts/feelingsYour child will use 5-8 word sentences.Your child will understand more difficultdirections about a picture (e.g., point to the bigdog that is not brown).Your child will tell a simple story that includes abeginning, middle, and end.Your child will show the ability to think about andcomment on language.Your child will use 2,500 signs/words.Your child will understand time concepts andparts (e.g., later/earlier, half/whole, etc.).Your child will ask why, whose, and what doesthis word mean questions.Your child will understand 13,000 signs/words.Your child will use two or more describing wordsin a sentence (e.g., front/back, heavy/light).ASLSpoken EnglishASLYour child willdemonstrate awareness thatlexicalized signs are madeup of handshapes.Your child willcomprehend v erb tense(e.g., kicked/kick,ran/run).Your child willuse conditionals (e.g.,SUPPOSE TEACHER SHESICK? CLASS NONE).Your child will distinguishnouns (double mov ement)from v erbs (singlemov ement) (e.g., CHAIR,SIT).Your child will followdirections using locationwords (e.g., on, top,beside, behind, under).Your child will tell storiesthat include setting upabsent people and objectsin space.Your child will understandnumber distribution (e.g.,LEAVES, FALL-singular;LEAVES, FALL-plural).Your child willcomprehend irrev ersiblepassiv e tense (e.g., Theball was kicked by theboy ).Your child will understandhandshape categories (e.g.,CL:F: BUTTON, FOX, CAT).Your child will understandwords for order (e.g.,first, next, last).Spoken EnglishYour child will use because,if, and so correctly insentences. JDHKYour child will use timeindicators (e.g., FINISH,NOT-YET).Your child will use WHbracketing (e.g., WHO GOWHO?).Your child will use words todescribe placement (e.g.,to, from, up, by

AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE AND ENGLISH LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENTAL MILESTONES This section includes language milestones for American Sign Language and English. These include skills for newborns to 11-year-olds. Each age range gives a skill for what your child should understand and express. It also