Communication, month by month
36 months
Stories start to take shape
Source window: 3–4 years. Skills emerge across this range, not on a monthly deadline.
What communication can look like
- Tells a story from a book or video.
- Uses more location words and words such as a and the.
- By age 4, most speech is understandable to others; some sounds are still developing.
Everyday examples
under the chair · then we… · a big dog
Illustrative sounds, words, or phrases—not a required vocabulary list. Welcome gestures, AAC, and home languages too.
A little moment to try
Look through a familiar book and wonder together about what happens next. Make room for their version.
Ask Joey AI
A little card to share
Explore cards inspired by the CDC 36-month checkpoint. One card is free; subscriber extras are coming soon.
Explore family cardsGrounded in published guidance
Milestone lists describe common skills, not an assessment or diagnosis. AI can be imperfect. For individual concerns, speak with a speech-language pathologist or pediatrician. For adults only; no personal child details or saved conversations.