By 3-4 years, most children will
- use sentences of 4 to 6 words
- give directions like "fix this for me"
- ask many questions like what, where, why
- tell about things they have done
- talk to themselves and their toys
- tell a story or sing a song
- tell you when they are tired
How YOU can help your child’s speech and language grow (3 - 4 years)
- let your child help you do things such as cooking and gardening - talk about what you are doing
- keep your child's conversations going by paying attention and showing that you are interested
- add new ideas to your conversations (example - talk about how things are the same and how they are different)
- use words that your child has trouble with in your own speech
- encourage your child to tell stories using books and pictures
- start reading longer stories to your child
- let your child play with other children
- remember that it is normal for your child to repeat words and sounds at this age
When to call for help
- Your child repeats words but does not seem to understand
- Your child stutters
- Other people have a hard time understanding what your child says
- Your child uses words in an unusual way