Preschool Checklist

Preschool Speech & Language Checklist

 

BY THREE MONTHS

Does your child:

Startle to a sudden sound?

Turn to where a sound is coming from?

Make sounds? (oo, ah)

Look at you with interest when you talk to her/him?

Smile in response to you?

 

BY SIX MONTHS

Does your child:

Make several different sounds?

Try to get your attention by looking at your face and/or making sounds? Make sounds and smile in response to your facial expressions and sounds?

 

BY NINE MONTHS

Does your child:

Reach out to be picked up?

Respond to her/his name?

Make speech-like sounds? (baba, gaga)

Babble tunefully (sing-song voice) while playing alone?

Turn to where a voice spoken word is coming from?

Enjoy being played with and does he/she take turns making sounds back and forth?

Understand no?

 

BY TWELVE MONTHS

Does your child:

Use a finger to point out things to you

Imitate or use gestures like waving bye-bye?

Let you know what he/she wants by using a combination of sounds and actions?

Bring you toys he/she wants to show you and/or play with?

Enjoy playing games like Peek-a-boo and Pat-a-cake and will he/she sometimes start the game?

Understand some simple phrases? (Come here. Don't touch.)

 

BY FIFTEEN MONTHS

Does your child:

Usually look at you when communicating?

Repeat words he/she hears?

Seem to be talking in sentences but not using real words?

Say one or two words?

Understand some simple questions and commands? (Go get a diaper. Where's the ball?)

 

BY EIGHTEEN MONTHS

Does your child:

Point, look at you, and then at what he/she is talking about?

Use the word no?

Say about ten or more words?

Understand and use the names of familiar objects? (light, ball, bed, car) Sometimes answer the question: What's this?

Take turns when playing with a partner?

Use toys for pretend play?

 

BY TWO YEARS

Does your child:

Point to some body parts?

Use descriptive words? (hungry, big, hot)

Use two word combinations? (Me go. More cookie.)

Ask questions like: What dat?

Enjoy listening to simple stories?

 

BY THREE YEARS

Does your child:

Follow two-part directions? (Go to the kitchen and get your cup.) Participate in short conversations?

Use sentences of three words or more to communicate?

Talk about something that happened in the past?

Ask why questions?

Do people outside the family understand one half of what he/she says?

 

BY FOUR YEARS

Does your child:

Talk in whole sentences using adult-like grammar?

Tell a story that is easy to follow?

Ask many questions?

Answer who, how, how many questions?

Use I, me, you, he and she properly?  

Start a conversation and continue it, staying on the same topic? 

Use language to create pretend situations when playing with others?

Does people outside the family understand more than 3/4 of what the child says?    

 

BY FIVE YEARS

Does your child:

Explain how an object can be used?

Answer when and why questions? 

Talk about past, future, and imaginary events?

Participate in long, detailed conversations?

Do people outside the family understand most of what he/she says?              

 

REFER ANY CHILD...

·  If you are concerned about her/his speech/language/hearing development.

·  If her/his speech and language skills have not improved over the past six months.

·  Who often repeats sound and/or words (stuttering).

·  Whose voice sounds different/odd to you.

·  Whose play or social interactions seem inappropriate.

·  With a diagnosis such as cleft lip/palate, hearing loss, PDD/Autism, developmental delay (who is not receiving services).