Talking Toddlers – Language Growth in the Third Year
By: Lydia Stimpson, M.S., CCC-SLP
Between ages 2 and 3, toddlers become little chatterboxes! Their ability to express themselves expands significantly.
Key Milestones (24-36 Months)
- Vocabulary grows from 200 to over 450 words
- Starts using three-word phrases (“I want toy”)
- Speech becomes clearer, about 50-75% intelligible
- Understands and follows two-step directions
- Uses early grammar (e.g., “I running” instead of “I run”)
- Begins to understand simple concepts like big/little, up/down
- Starts asking questions like “Where’s mommy?”
- Enjoys telling short stories or talking about past events
Common Speech Patterns at This Age
- Final Consonant Deletion (saying “ca” for “cat”)
- Cluster Reduction (saying “top” for “stop”)
- Fronting (saying “tat” for “cat”)
These are normal and typically resolve as speech develops.
Ways to Support Language Growth
- Expand sentences: If your child says “car,” respond with “Yes, that’s a red car!”
- Encourage conversation: Ask open-ended questions like “What did you do today?”
- Read together: Point to pictures and encourage your child to name objects
By age 3, toddlers are forming more complex thoughts and expressing them in ways that prepare them for preschool and beyond!
If you have questions about your child’s development, our team is here to help. Request an appointment online to speak with a pediatric speech therapist.
