5 Key Language Milestones Your 2-Year-Old Should Reach

By: Lydia Stimpson, M.S. CF-SLP

As your child grows and develops, one of the most exciting milestones to watch is their language development. At two years old (24 months), your child is rapidly developing language skills. Here are five important language milestones to look for:

1. Basic Vocabulary
   Your child should understand and use about 50 words, including names for food (milk, cookie), toys (ball, truck), animals (dog, cat), body parts (hands, feet), and names of family members or close friends (mommy, daddy, baby).
2. Two-Word Phrases
   They’ll start combining two or more words to form phrases like “I want milk,” “bye bye baby,” “mommy come,” or “go car,” showing their growing understanding of sentence structure and how words fit together to express ideas.
3. Answering Questions
   Your toddler should be able to point to or name objects when asked simple questions, like “Where is the doll?”
4. Following 2-Step Directions
   At this age, they should be able to follow basic two-step instructions, such as “Get the cup and put it on the table.”
5. Asking for Help
   Your child will use words to express needs, like “help me” or “open please,” showing they’re starting to advocate for themselves.

Bonus: Conversational Turn-Taking
Your 2-year-old should engage in simple back-and-forth conversations, even if it’s just repeating words or phrases. This interaction shows they’re learning how conversations work and that communication is a two-way street.

If your child isn’t meeting some of these milestones, it might be time for a speech-language evaluation. A professional can provide a thorough look at your child’s understanding and communication skills to determine if speech therapy might be beneficial.

Remember, early intervention is key to supporting your child’s speech and language development. The sooner we can address any concerns, the more effective therapy can be in helping them reach their full potential.