Small steps, one month at a time.
Words are only one part of communication. Explore sounds, gestures, conversations, and stories.
Communication, month by month
18 months1 year, 6 mo
Months · ¹ ASHA: skills within an age range. ² CDC: published “by this age” milestone. No new word target is assigned to each month.
CDC · 18 months · 13–18 months
Gestures meet early words
CDC by 18 months: tries to say three or more words besides mama or dada.
Everyday examples: ball · up · moreIllustrations to explore, not required words.
General age guidance, not an assessment. Every path is different. Supports, never replaces, your speech-language pathologist.
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