Helping all children become happy learners
Receptive Language Milestones
Introduction
All children develop at different rates and so reaching milestones slower or faster than peers does not necessarily mean that there is a concern. Differences of up to 12 months are very normal. However, it can help to identify areas where a child may warrant some additional support particularly when more than 18 months off a chronological milestone.
12 Months
Knows their own name, understands 'no' and a handful of other frequently used words
2 years
Child can point to body parts. Understands simple phrases with two key words e.g. 'Give me the toy.'
3 Years
Understands instructions involving past tense and negatives e.g 'Don't scare the birds' . Can understand two stage requests e.g. 'Go and get your Teddy and put him in the suitcase.'
4 Years
Understands simple sentences with prepositions giving specific place e.g. 'The game is in the box on the shelf.'
5 Years
Beginning to understand jokes and puns
6 Years
More able to understand non-literal use of language such as metaphors and idioms.