CGTC FAQs: Academic Support

Pediatric Milestones:  3 months

The first milestone occurs at 3 months.  The trick to remember 3 months is to remember the three-letter word "Coo."  By this age, the infants makes cooing sounds.  They also start to smile at people and make eye contact.  They begin to recognize your voice.  They may even stay quiet or smile when spoken to.  They cry differently for different needs.  For instance if they are hungry versus tired, those crying sounds may be different.  They also vocalize pleasure and displeasure sounds differently.  For example, they laugh and giggle to portray happiness but cry and fuss as a way to communicate they're upset. 

6 months

You can remember 6 months by the 6-letter word "babble."  By this age, the infant starts to babble and repeat sounds.  Mama and dada are some of the repetitive sounds they say.  They start to make gurgling sounds.  And use their voice to express pleasure and displeasure.  The infant notices and recognizes sounds more.  They may move their eyes toward sound; they may listen to music; they respond to changes in your voice.  

9 months

The nine-letter word for 9 months is "imitation."  They may imitate speech sound and non-speech sounds.  Also, they may imitate actions and gestures.  They may gesture by pointing to objects and showing them to others.  They also start to look at familiar objects when someone is talking about them.  They also start to recognize their own name.  The baby's babbling increases as they start to string longer babbling sounds together.  

12 months

Next is 12 months old.  The digits 1 and 2 should help you to remember that 12 months is when they use 1-2 words.  Use of "mama" and "dada" are more meaningful.  They begin to say and understand 3-50 words.  They understand simple phrases and instructions such as "come here" or "don't touch!"  The child may start to answer simple phrases by nodding or shaking their heads.  They recognize words for common items--ball, shoe, cup, dog, etc.

18 months

Around 18 months children will have a vocabulary around 10-2- words.  After 18 months, they child may have a word spurt.  Where his or her vocabulary increases to 50 words.  Child starts to repeat words heard in conversation.  They also become interactive and focused on things they recognize.  They point to familiar objects and people in pictures.  Points to pictures in a book when you name them.  Points to familiar body parts when you ask like eyes, ears, nose, or tongue.  Continues to grow and understand simple commands like "put the toy down: or "roll the ball."  Understand simple commands like "where are your shoes?"

2 years

Two can be used to remember the milestone of two-word phrases.  The child will begin to use 2-word phrases to talk about and ask for things.  They may ask a number of 2-word phrases.  And follow 2-step directions like "Pick up your toy and, give it to mommy."  They have a vocabulary of 50 words or more.  However, the pronunciation often is unclear.  The parents and caregivers can usually understand at least half of the child's speech.  They use gestures and words during pretend play.  May make animal sounds such as "moo."  

3 years

By 3 years of age, children will begin to use 3-word phrases to talk about and ask for things.  They have a vocabulary of 200 words or more.  Speech becomes clearer and is understood by caregiver.  They begin to ask what and where type questions.  The child understands more spatial concepts such as "in," "on," and "under."  Children also understand the concepts of color and time.  The child understands and uses more pronouns such as "him," "her," "you," and "me."  They also understand and use more plurals such as dogs, cats, shoes, or socks.  

4 years

Four or more word sentences are being used by the child.  They use 4 or more sentences at a time when talking about their day or telling stories.  They understand and ask how and why type questions.  They start to express ideas and feelings rather than just talking about the world around them.  Talks about activities at school, daycare, and home.  Parents and caregivers can understand most if not all of their speech.  Typically can recognize 8 primary colors by this age, if not sooner.  They can usually group objects into different categories such as food or clothes.