Bilingual speech milestones can look different by language. Learn what research says about first words, vocabulary, and practical support.
Speech Milestones
When Your Preschooler Starts Stuttering: What Parents Can Do to Help
When a young child begins repeating sounds, getting stuck on words, or struggling to finish sentences, parents often wonder whether they should correct the speech, wait for it to improve, or seek professional help. The most helpful first response is to listen patiently, avoid pressuring the child to speak smoothly, Continue Reading
Oral Language Skills That Build Strong Readers
Evidence-based ways to build oral language skills through shared reading, questions, vocabulary, and bilingual family routines for preschoolers.
When Do Children Understand Words Like In, On, Under, and Behind?
A toddler who puts a toy “in the box” when asked may seem to have mastered the word in. But change the objects, remove the pointing gesture, or ask the child to explain where something is, and the same concept may suddenly become harder. That distinction matters in spatial concepts Continue Reading
When Does a Child’s Speech Become Understandable to Other People?
A child can sound perfectly understandable at home and leave a grandparent, teacher, or unfamiliar adult asking, “What did they say?” That difference does not automatically mean something is wrong. Speech intelligibility by age develops gradually, and how clearly a child is understood depends on far more than whether individual Continue Reading
Speech Development Delays After the Pandemic
Speech development delays rose modestly in some post-pandemic data. Learn practical, evidence-based ways parents can monitor and support language.
Language Acquisition Research: MacWhinney Legacy
Language Acquisition Research can help parents and educators connect speech milestones with evidence, context, and careful observation.
Childhood Speech Delays: What Research Shows
Childhood speech delays have risen in several datasets. Learn what the evidence shows, what remains uncertain, and how families can respond.
ASHA Communication Milestones: Parent Update
ASHA Communication Milestones help parents review speech, language, and hearing skills from birth to age 5 without replacing evaluation.
When Do Children Start Understanding Words Like Before and After?
A child may understand “Put your shoes on before we leave” yet struggle with “Touch the red block before the blue one.” That difference is central to understanding when children understand before and after: learning these words is not simply memorizing two definitions but learning how language can rearrange the Continue Reading