One to Two Years

Children develop at their own rate. Your child might not have all skills until the end of the age range.

What should my child be able to do?

Hearing and Understanding	Talking
Points to a few body parts when you ask. Follows 1-part directions, like "Roll the ball" or "Kiss the baby." Responds to simple questions, like “Who’s that?” or “Where’s your shoe?” Listens to simple stories, songs, and rhymes. Points to pictures in a book when you name them.	Uses a lot of new words. Uses p, b, m, h, and w in words. Starts to name pictures in books. Asks questions, like “What's that?”, “Who’s that?”, and “Where’s kitty?” Puts 2 words together, like "more apple," "no bed," and "mommy book."

Talk to your child as you do things and go places. For example, when taking a walk, point to and name what you see. Say things like, “I see a dog. The dog says ‘woof.’ This is a big dog. This dog is brown.”
Use short words and sentences that your child can imitate. Use correct grammar.
Talk about sounds around your house. Listen to the clock tick, and say “t-t-t.” Make car or plane sounds, like “v-v-v-v.”
Play with sounds at bath time. You are eye-level with your child. Blow bubbles, and make the sound “b-b-b-b.” Pop bubbles, and make a “p-p-p-p” sound. Engines on toys can make the “rrr-rrr-rrr” sound.
Add to words your child says. For example, if she says “car,” you can say, “You're right! That is a big red car.”
Read to your child every day. Try to find books with large pictures and a few words on each page. Talk about the pictures on each page.
Have your child point to pictures that you name.
Ask your child to name pictures. He may not answer at first. Just name the pictures for him. One day, he will surprise you by telling you the name.
Talk to your child in the language you are most comfortable using.