The changes happening in your little adventurer as they grow are amazing. Language is one of those developmental milestones that surprises you the most: at first, they observe, coo, and babble… and later, they say their first words. Language development begins early, long before that first eagerly awaited word. Of course, always keep in mind that each child has their own pace and will reach this milestone when they are ready. What are the main stages of language acquisition?
How can you help your child on the path to learning to speak?
How can you spot a possible speech problem? We answer all these questions in this article.

What is the development of language from 0 to 3 years old

Before 6 months: the beginnings of communication

Language development and speech acquisition begin even before your little one is born. In the womb, your baby can faintly perceive sounds from the outside: music, your voice, street noises… When they enter the world, a newborn can recognize their mother’s voice and can also differentiate their native language from another language thanks to intonation. In the first months, babies don’t speak, but they make themselves understood through crying and gestures. Around two months, their first cooing sounds begin: your little explorer discovers the sounds coming from their throat and repeats them over and over to practice those first glimpses of what will become their voice. Learning to speak is a long process that requires patience and observation.

Language from 6 to 12 months: babbling

Around six months, babies recognize their name and pay attention when they hear it. Their language begins to organize a bit more, and they pronounce their first syllables: "ma", "pa", which they will later repeat as "mamamama". Then, they gradually start to recognize certain words until around nine months, when the big discovery happens: words have meaning! And while their first "mama" or "papa" may simply be sound experiments, they will quickly understand that these sounds carry meaning, especially when they see their parents’ emotional reactions. During this period, they love to imitate you and point to certain objects to get your attention. This is a great opportunity to name what they show you and help develop their vocabulary.

From 18 to 24 months: lexical explosion

This stage of language development is often impressive for parents! Your child learns new words very quickly, sometimes several a day. They also begin to build sentences by combining two or three words: "mom asleep". Linking words, which are more difficult to use, are still absent. Their understanding of language improves, and they can now understand up to three hundred words. At this stage, they can articulate more clearly, but they still need practice on this journey of learning to speak. No rush. Be patient, and enjoy their achievements.

Entering ages 2 and 3: the first phases

From two to three years old, your child’s vocabulary expands significantly. The number of words they use increases steadily: by three years old, your child has, on average, a thousand words and can say three hundred. They master syntax better, and their sentences become more structured. Now, they include a subject, a verb, and a complement. Your little adventurer marvels at everything and asks many questions, which helps them progress even faster in language learning. This is the stage of “why?” but also of “me,” as they want to discover the world—and their world can also be very egocentric (in a positive sense related to building their identity, not as a negative term meaning selfishness). Some sounds are still difficult to pronounce, and it may be necessary to wait until around age six for them to master particularly tricky phonemes like "r" or "s". The milestone of learning to speak is now a more tangible reality.

Recommendations to assist you in learning

Talk to them

Your child needs to hear the people around them communicate so they can learn to speak. Every moment is a good opportunity to stimulate your little adventurer’s language: while changing their diaper, when you play together, while dressing them… Tell them what you’re doing so they can hear your voice and watch you articulate the words. By repeating this daily during everyday routines, your child will memorize words more easily and learn to associate them with each object or action. Don’t hesitate to add words to what they are trying to say when they point to an object or try to express themselves through sounds.

Read stories

Picture books or books with colorful illustrations are wonderful visual supports that help your child connect a word with what it represents. Take the opportunity to ask very simple questions and encourage them to speak. Stories are also a great way to stimulate their imagination and enrich their vocabulary. Young children are particularly sensitive to the musicality of your voice, which helps them break down and recognize words more easily. Have fun changing your intonation and exaggerating certain sounds—your little adventurer will love it! Plus, you’ll share a magical moment together and, without realizing it, you’ll be nurturing their love of books. What more could you ask for?

Play with language

Puzzles and word games are a very useful resource from 18 months onward for language development. Your child will begin to recognize letters and connect them with sounds, which will be essential for starting another exciting journey: reading and writing.

Be patient

Learning to speak takes support and time. Give your child time to understand and respond. No rush. When they talk to you, try to listen attentively and answer all their questions. This helps build their confidence, which is essential in any lifelong learning process.

How to detect a problem in language acquisition?

If your little adventurer doesn’t speak as well as their peers of the same age, it isn’t necessarily a sign of a language disorder. As with any other learning process, each child has their own pace. Some will say their first words very early, while others will do so much later. The important thing is to stay alert to your child’s behavior and not hesitate to consult your pediatrician at the slightest doubt. Here are some signs that may serve as warnings:

• If at 18 months they do not seem to understand what you say and make little or no attempt to interact with you.

• If at two and a half years old they still do not try to repeat what they hear and do not produce two-word sentences.

• If after three years they do not understand simple instructions and prefer to communicate through gestures.

Your pediatrician will be able to determine whether your child has a hearing problem and refer them to a speech therapist if necessary.