When Do Kids Speak? Milestones & How to Support Early Talk

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. The Journey to First Words: Early Communication Milestones
3. Understanding Developmental Variability: Why Every Child is Unique
4. Empowering Your Child’s Voice: Practical Strategies for Parents
5. When to Seek Support: Recognizing Potential Speech Delays
6. Speech Blubs: Our Approach to Nurturing Communication
7. Maximizing Your Child’s Potential with Speech Blubs: Value and Features
8. Conclusion
9. Frequently Asked Questions

Few moments in parenthood are as eagerly anticipated and genuinely joyful as hearing your child’s first word. That tiny sound, perhaps an imperfect “mama” or a sweet, drawn-out “dada,” marks the beginning of a lifelong journey of communication. It’s a powerful moment, a window into your child’s developing mind, and a signal that a whole new world of interaction is opening up between you. But as with all developmental milestones, the exact timing can vary, leaving many parents wondering, “What age do kids speak?” and “Is my child on track?”

It’s completely natural to have questions, especially when every child seems to follow their own unique timetable. Some children surprise us with early words, while others take a more measured approach, focusing on other skills like walking or social cues before diving into verbal expression. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the typical stages of speech development, from those first coos to forming full sentences. We’ll explore the fascinating factors that influence when and how children learn to talk, and most importantly, provide you with practical, evidence-based strategies to lovingly support your little one’s burgeoning voice. You’ll also learn when it might be beneficial to seek professional guidance and how resources like Speech Blubs, built on a foundation of scientific methodology and a deep understanding of child development, can be a joyful and effective partner in your child’s communication journey.

Introduction

Imagine the moment your baby, who once only communicated through cries and coos, points to a beloved teddy bear and clearly says, “bear!” It’s a magical milestone, yet the path to that first word, and then to a full conversation, is a complex and often varied one. Many parents find themselves comparing their child’s progress to others, wondering if their little one is hitting those crucial speech benchmarks at the “right” time. This natural curiosity highlights a universal parental concern: understanding and nurturing our children’s ability to express themselves.

At Speech Blubs, we believe every child deserves to “speak their minds and hearts,” and our mission is to empower them to do just that. Our company was born from a very personal place; our founders grew up with speech problems and were driven to create the engaging, effective tool they wished they had during their own childhoods. We understand that speech development isn’t always linear, and that’s why we’re committed to providing joyful, scientifically-backed solutions.

In this post, we’ll explore the typical timeline of speech development, providing clear milestones from birth through age five. We’ll delve into common questions, discuss when to seek professional advice, and share practical, everyday strategies you can use to encourage your child’s communication skills. We’ll also explain how Speech Blubs leverages innovative “video modeling” to make learning to speak an exciting adventure, fostering confidence and reducing frustration for the 1 in 4 children who need speech support. By the end of this article, you’ll have a clearer understanding of what to expect and how to actively support your child’s journey to a confident voice.

The Journey to First Words: Early Communication Milestones

The development of speech and language is a gradual process, building brick by brick from a child’s earliest days. It’s a beautiful dance between listening, understanding, and eventually, producing sounds and words. Understanding these early communication milestones can help you appreciate the intricate progress your child is making, even before they utter their first recognizable word.

From Coos to Babble (0-6 months)

Even before babies can speak, they are actively communicating and absorbing language. Their journey begins with a foundation of sounds and interactions.

• 0-3 Months: The Age of Crying and Cooing. From birth, crying is a baby’s primary mode of communication, signaling hunger, discomfort, or a need for connection. But soon, these cries are joined by softer, more pleasant sounds. Around two to three months, you’ll start to hear cooing—gentle, vowel-like sounds such as “ooo” and “ahh.” These delightful vocalizations are your baby’s first experiments with their vocal cords, showing they are starting to use their tongue, lips, and palate to produce sounds. This is also when babies begin to smile in response to voices and faces, engaging in early social communication.
• 4-6 Months: The Babbling Explosion. This period marks a significant leap. Your baby will transition from simple cooing to babbling, producing strings of consonant-vowel combinations like “ba-ba,” “da-da,” “ga-ga,” or “ma-ma.” These aren’t yet meaningful words, but they are crucial practice. Babies are learning to combine sounds and control their mouth movements. You’ll notice they’re listening intently to the sounds around them, turning their heads towards voices, and recognizing familiar sounds like their own name. They may even respond to their name by looking at you, showing an early understanding of specific words and their personal significance. This is also a time when giggling and laughter become more common, adding another layer to their expressive communication.

The Magic of First Words (7-18 months)

This is the phase everyone looks forward to—the emergence of those precious first words. It’s often preceded by more complex babbling and a growing understanding of language.

• 7-12 Months: Intentional Communication and Sound Imitation. As your baby approaches their first birthday, their babbling becomes more varied, with different intonations and rhythms that mimic adult speech. They might start using gestures purposefully, like waving “bye-bye” or pointing to things they want. Critically, this is the window where most babies say their first recognizable words. These are often simple nouns like “mama,” “dada,” or the names of beloved pets or toys. While they may only have a handful of words, their receptive language (what they understand) is far more developed. They can follow simple commands like “Come here” or “Give me the ball” and understand the names of common objects. This period is a powerful testament to the learning through imitation that babies engage in—they are like sponges, soaking up all the sounds and patterns you produce.
• 13-18 Months: Expanding Vocabulary and Early Connections. After those initial first words, a toddler’s vocabulary begins to grow, albeit sometimes slowly at first. They may add a few new words each month, typically ranging from 10 to 50 words by 18 months. These words are often tied to their immediate needs and interests—”milk,” “ball,” “more,” “no.” At this stage, while they are still primarily using single words, they might use those words with different intentions. “Mama!” could mean “Where’s Mama?” or “Look, Mama!” They also become more adept at using gestures in conjunction with words to communicate more complex ideas. For a parent whose 18-month-old is beginning to associate words with objects, our app offers engaging categories like “First Words” where real children demonstrate words like “car” or “apple,” helping your child connect the sound to the object through our unique video modeling.

Combining Words and Building Sentences (18-36 months)

This phase marks a significant leap from single words to rudimentary sentences, signaling a child’s growing understanding of grammar and syntax.

• 18-24 Months: The “Word Explosion” and Two-Word Phrases. Between 18 and 24 months, many toddlers experience a “word explosion.” Their vocabulary can jump from 50 words to 200 words or more. More excitingly, they begin to combine two words into simple phrases, often referred to as “telegraphic speech.” Examples include “more juice,” “daddy go,” “big dog,” or “my ball.” They’re not just naming things; they’re starting to express relationships between them. By the time they turn two, a significant portion of what they say should be understandable to familiar caregivers, even if strangers still have difficulty. This is a prime time for using resources like Speech Blubs, where our “Sounds” and “Word Junction” sections help children practice combining new sounds and words, making this developmental stage joyful and engaging.
• 2-3 Years: Simple Sentences and Clearer Speech. By age three, most children are using three- or four-word sentences, often incorporating pronouns (“I,” “me,” “you”) and prepositions (“in,” “on”). They can express a wider range of ideas, ask simple questions (“Where mommy go?”), and follow two-step directions. Their speech becomes much clearer, with about 75% of what they say understandable to unfamiliar listeners. They can talk about past events, understand basic concepts like “big/little” and “in/out,” and engage in early imaginative play using language. This period is critical for developing the foundational skills that enable children to confidently “speak their minds and hearts.”

Beyond Three: Conversational Growth (3-5 years)

As children move beyond toddlerhood, their language skills continue to blossom, becoming more sophisticated and conversational.

• 3-4 Years: Telling Stories and Asking “Why?”. Children at this age become budding storytellers, able to recount simple events, use more complex sentences, and engage in longer conversations. Their vocabulary expands dramatically, and they begin to understand more abstract concepts. They love asking “why” questions as they try to make sense of the world around them. Speech is generally clear, though some speech sounds (like ‘r’, ‘s’, ‘th’, ‘l’) might still be developing. Their ability to use language for social interaction and pretend play grows exponentially.
• 4-5 Years: Fluent Speakers and Social Communicators. By five years old, most children are highly articulate. They can use longer, grammatically correct sentences, retell stories with detail, and engage in back-and-forth conversations with ease. They understand and use a wide range of vocabulary, including opposites and descriptive words. They can communicate their feelings, thoughts, and ideas effectively, navigate social situations using language, and their speech is almost entirely intelligible, even to strangers. This strong foundation ensures they are ready for the linguistic demands of school and beyond.

Understanding Developmental Variability: Why Every Child is Unique

While these milestones provide a helpful roadmap, it’s crucial to remember that every child is an individual. Just as some babies walk early and others late, the timing of speech development can vary significantly. What you may not realize is how this variability is influenced by a multitude of factors, and that observing your child’s unique pace is often more important than rigidly adhering to a timeline.

The “Late Talker” Phenomenon

Sometimes, a child may seem to be taking longer to reach verbal milestones compared to their peers. These children are often referred to as “late talkers.” Typically, a late talker is a child between 18 and 30 months who has a good understanding of language, develops other skills (like motor and cognitive skills) typically, but has a limited vocabulary for their age (e.g., fewer than 50 words by 24 months) and isn’t combining words. Many late talkers catch up on their own, but some may continue to have language delays. This is precisely why observing consistent progress, rather than just hitting specific numbers, is key.

Factors Influencing Speech Development

Several elements can contribute to the pace and pattern of a child’s language acquisition:

• Hearing and Listening Skills: Speech begins with sound perception. If a child has frequent ear infections, fluid in the ears, or an undiagnosed hearing loss, it can significantly impact their ability to hear and process speech sounds, leading to delays. If your child isn’t consistently responding to sounds or their name, a hearing check is a vital first step.
• Social Interaction and Environment: Children learn language by being immersed in it. A rich linguistic environment, filled with back-and-forth conversations, storytelling, and reading, provides abundant opportunities for language absorption. Conversely, limited exposure to language and interaction can slow down development. Passive screen time, like watching cartoons, offers minimal interactive language learning, whereas our “smart screen time” at Speech Blubs is designed for active engagement and communication.
• Motor vs. Verbal Focus: Some children seem to prioritize certain developmental areas. A child intensely focused on mastering gross motor skills like walking or running might allocate less energy to verbal development initially. They might be “doers” first and “talkers” later, and often, their speech will accelerate once their motor skills are more established.
• Temperament and Personality: A child’s individual personality also plays a role. Some children are naturally outgoing and eager to experiment with sounds and words, even if imperfectly. Others are more reserved observers, preferring to understand and process language internally before attempting to speak themselves. They might have a larger “receptive” vocabulary (what they understand) than their “expressive” vocabulary (what they say).
• Bilingualism: There’s a common misconception that raising a child in a bilingual home can cause speech delays. However, research consistently shows that this is not the case. Bilingual children may start speaking slightly later, but they ultimately catch up to their monolingual peers and often show enhanced cognitive benefits. When assessing their vocabulary, we count words across both languages. For example, knowing “water” and “agua” counts as two words, not one. This is an important distinction to make and something we support in our app, which is available in multiple languages.

Recognizing these nuances means understanding that “different” doesn’t necessarily mean “delayed.” However, being informed allows you to observe your child’s progression thoughtfully and seek support if genuine concerns arise.

Empowering Your Child’s Voice: Practical Strategies for Parents

You are your child’s first and most important language teacher! The good news is, you don’t need specialized equipment or a degree in linguistics to support their speech development. The most effective strategies are often simple, consistent, and woven into your everyday interactions. At Speech Blubs, we believe in making learning fun, and these strategies align perfectly with that philosophy.

Everyday Interaction: The Power of Talk

The single most powerful tool you have is your voice. Engage with your child throughout the day, narrating your activities and responding to their attempts at communication.

• Narrate, Narrate, Narrate: Talk about everything you’re doing, seeing, and experiencing. “Mommy is cutting the apple for your snack,” “Look at the big blue car!” or “Let’s put the toy in the box.” This “parallel talk” helps your child connect words to actions and objects in real-time.
• Ask Open-Ended Questions: Instead of questions that require a simple “yes” or “no,” encourage more elaborate responses. “What did you see at the park?” or “Tell me about your drawing.”
• Respond and Expand: When your child babbles or says a single word, respond enthusiastically. If they say “dog,” you can expand on it: “Yes, that’s a big, fluffy dog! The dog is running.” This models correct pronunciation and introduces new vocabulary.
• Face-to-Face Interaction: Get down to your child’s level. Maintain eye contact. Children learn language by watching and imitating your facial expressions and mouth movements. This direct engagement is far more impactful than passive listening.
• Give Them Time to Respond: It’s tempting to finish your child’s sentences or fill in gaps when they’re struggling to find a word. However, pausing and giving them a few extra seconds encourages them to formulate their own response, building confidence in their verbal abilities.

Reading Aloud: A Foundation for Language

Reading together is one of the most enriching activities for language development. It exposes children to a wide range of vocabulary, sentence structures, and concepts.

• Make it a Daily Ritual: Even five to ten minutes a day makes a difference. Choose colorful picture books with engaging stories.
• Point and Label: As you read, point to pictures and name the objects or actions. Ask your child to point to familiar items: “Where’s the cat?”
• Engage with the Story: Don’t just read the words. Ask questions, make animal sounds, or talk about what might happen next. “What do you think the bear will do now?” This turns reading into an interactive conversation.
• Sing Songs and Nursery Rhymes: Repetitive songs and rhymes help children pick up on language patterns, rhythm, and phonological awareness—the sounds that make up words. Act out songs like “Itsy Bitsy Spider” to connect movement with words.

Play and Imitation: Learning Through Fun

Children learn best through play. Incorporate language into their favorite games and activities.

• Imitation Games: Play “copycat” with sounds, actions, and eventually, words. If you make an animal sound, encourage them to imitate it. This builds the fundamental skill of imitation, which is crucial for speech development.
• Cause-and-Effect Toys: Toys that respond to actions (e.g., pushing a button to hear a sound, building blocks that fall) teach children that their actions have consequences. This sense of control and engagement can motivate them to communicate more.
• Pretend Play: Encourage imaginative play with dolls, cars, or dress-up clothes. Use different voices for characters and model conversational turns. “The car is going fast! Vroom, vroom!”
• Integrate Speech Blubs into Play: Our app is designed to be a powerful, interactive tool that transforms screen time into “smart screen time.” Instead of passive viewing, children actively participate through our unique video modeling methodology. They watch real peers demonstrate words and sounds, which taps into “mirror neurons” in their brains, making imitation a natural and joyful process. For instance, if your toddler is enchanted by dinosaurs, our “Dinosaur Sounds” section allows them to imitate children making roaring and stomping noises, reinforcing new sounds and vocabulary in a fun, relatable context. This active engagement makes learning complex communication skills feel like play and offers a powerful tool for family connection, as you can co-play with your child, celebrating their every new sound and word. Download Speech Blubs on the App Store or Google Play to explore how our app can make a difference.

Remember, the goal isn’t to force your child to speak, but to create a nurturing, language-rich environment where they feel confident and encouraged to explore their voice. Every sound, every gesture, and every attempt at a word is a step forward.

When to Seek Support: Recognizing Potential Speech Delays

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the sheer volume of information about child development. While developmental timelines offer helpful guidelines, it’s vital to remember that individual differences are the norm. However, there are certain signs that might suggest a child could benefit from a professional evaluation. Recognizing these early warning signs can make a significant difference in supporting your child’s communication journey.

Key Milestones to Watch For

If your child is consistently missing several of the following milestones, or if you notice a regression in previously learned skills, it’s a good idea to consult your pediatrician.

• By 12 Months:
  • No babbling (e.g., “ba-ba,” “da-da”).
  • Does not use gestures like pointing, waving, or reaching.
  • Does not respond to their name when called.
  • No eye contact or joint attention (looking at what you’re looking at).
• By 18 Months:
  • Has fewer than 6-10 clear words.
  • Doesn’t imitate sounds or words.
  • Doesn’t point to show you things or share interests.
  • Doesn’t respond to simple verbal requests without gestures (e.g., “Come here”).
• By Two Years Old:
  • Has a vocabulary of fewer than 50 words.
  • Doesn’t combine two words spontaneously (e.g., “more milk,” “daddy go”).
  • Speech is largely unintelligible to familiar caregivers.
  • Doesn’t follow simple two-step directions.
  • Shows a sudden loss of any speech or language skills.
• By Three Years Old:
  • Not using at least 5 words consistently.
  • Difficulty understanding verbs or complex instructions.
  • Has a good vocabulary but you and other caregivers still have trouble understanding most of their words.
  • Difficulty engaging in pretend play that involves language.

It’s important to emphasize that missing one milestone doesn’t automatically mean a delay, especially if progress is observed in other areas. However, persistent concerns or a significant lag across multiple areas warrant attention.

The Role of Echolalia in Language Development

When discussing speech development, it’s worth understanding echolalia, which is the repetition of words or phrases.

• Immediate Echolalia: This is when a child repeats something immediately after hearing it. For example, if you say, “Do you want a cookie?” and they reply, “Want a cookie?” before giving their actual answer.
• Delayed Echolalia: This involves repeating phrases or sentences heard earlier, sometimes hours or days later. It might sound out of context but can be a child’s way of practicing language or expressing a complex idea they don’t yet have the words for.

Echolalia is a normal phase for many young children, particularly around the 18-30 month mark, as they learn to imitate and internalize language patterns. It usually diminishes as a child’s spontaneous language skills grow. If echolalia persists beyond three years old, or if it seems to be the primary mode of communication rather than a stepping stone to original speech, it’s a good idea to consult a professional.

Trusting Your Gut: When to Consult a Professional

As a parent, your intuition is a powerful tool. If you have an enduring feeling that something isn’t quite right with your child’s speech development, don’t hesitate to act. Early intervention is not about “fixing” a child; it’s about providing timely support that can have a profound impact on their long-term communication skills, confidence, and overall development.

• Start with Your Pediatrician: Your child’s doctor can conduct preliminary screenings and rule out underlying issues like hearing problems. They can also provide referrals to speech-language pathologists.
• Consider a Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) Evaluation: An SLP can thoroughly assess your child’s speech, language, and communication skills and determine if therapy or other support is needed. Remember, getting help early gives your child the best chance of thriving.
• Utilize Preliminary Screeners: Unsure if your child could benefit from professional guidance or additional support? You can start with a simple, online assessment. Take our quick 3-minute preliminary screener to get a simple assessment and a personalized next-steps plan. It involves just 9 simple questions and can provide valuable insights, often leading to a free 7-day trial of Speech Blubs, giving you an immediate, effective, and joyful solution for supporting your child’s communication.

Whether it’s a quick check-in with your doctor or a deeper dive with a specialist, proactive steps ensure your child receives the support they need to confidently express themselves and connect with the world around them.

Speech Blubs: Our Approach to Nurturing Communication

At Speech Blubs, we understand that nurturing a child’s ability to communicate goes beyond just words—it’s about empowering them to truly “speak their minds and hearts.” This deep commitment to child development is etched into our very foundation, born from the personal experiences of our founders who faced speech problems in their own childhoods. They created Speech Blubs to be the accessible, engaging, and effective tool they wished they had—a joyful solution for the 1 in 4 children who need speech support.

The Science Behind Our Play: Video Modeling and Peer Learning

We don’t just create games; we craft scientifically-backed “smart screen time” experiences. Our unique approach is built on video modeling, a highly effective methodology where children learn by watching and imitating their peers. Here’s how it works:

• Mirror Neurons in Action: When children watch other kids (their “blubs”) make sounds and pronounce words, their brain’s “mirror neurons” activate. This neurological phenomenon makes learning through imitation incredibly powerful and natural. It’s a primal way humans learn, making speech acquisition intuitive and engaging.
• Real Faces, Real Sounds: Unlike passive cartoons, Speech Blubs features real children, offering authentic visual and auditory cues for speech. This human connection fosters empathy and makes the learning process more relatable and motivating.
• Active Participation, Not Passive Viewing: Our activities require children to actively respond, imitate, and interact. This screen-free alternative to passive viewing transforms screen time from a solo activity into a powerful tool for family connection. You and your child can play together, practice sounds, and celebrate successes, turning learning into a shared, joyful experience.
• Evidence-Based and Trusted: Our methodology is backed by solid research, which is why Speech Blubs is consistently rated highly on the MARS (Mobile App Rating Scale) and trusted by speech-language pathologists worldwide. We are proud to be in the top tier of speech apps globally for our commitment to scientific principles blended with play. You can learn more about our research-backed methods on our website.

Beyond Passive Viewing: Smart Screen Time and Family Connection

We believe that screen time, when used thoughtfully, can be incredibly beneficial. Speech Blubs is designed to be:

• A Powerful Tool for Development: We help children develop key foundational skills like imitation, sound production, vocabulary expansion, and sentence formation. Our thematic sections, like “Wild Animals” or “Yummy Time,” introduce new words and concepts in a captivating way. For a child who loves vehicles, our “Wheels” section provides a fun way to practice “vroom” and “beep-beep,” turning imaginative play into speech practice.
• A Confidence Builder: For children struggling with speech, frustration can be common. Our app provides a supportive, non-judgmental environment where they can practice at their own pace, building confidence with every new sound and word. This fosters a love for communication, reducing anxiety and encouraging them to express themselves.
• A Catalyst for Family Bonding: Speech Blubs is not meant to be a babysitter; it’s a co-play tool. Parents and caregivers are encouraged to join in, imitating sounds, celebrating progress, and expanding on the concepts learned in the app. This creates joyful family learning moments and strengthens your connection with your child, reinforcing that their voice is valued. Read success stories from other parents who have experienced the power of Speech Blubs firsthand.

We are committed to helping children find their voices, nurturing their communication skills, and watching them blossom into confident speakers. Our app serves as a powerful supplement to a child’s overall development plan and, when applicable, professional therapy, working hand-in-hand to unlock their full potential.

Maximizing Your Child’s Potential with Speech Blubs: Value and Features

Choosing the right tools to support your child’s development is a decision that impacts their future. We want to be transparent about the value Speech Blubs offers and help you select the plan that best suits your family’s needs.

Choose the Right Plan for Your Family

At Speech Blubs, we offer two primary subscription plans, each designed to provide engaging and effective speech support for your child:

• Monthly Plan: For just $14.99 per month, you gain access to our core Speech Blubs app, packed with thousands of engaging activities and our unique video modeling methodology. This plan is ideal if you prefer a flexible, month-to-month commitment.
• Yearly Plan: Our most popular and highly recommended option is the Yearly Plan, priced at just $59.99 per year. This breaks down to an incredible value of only $4.99 per month, allowing you to save a remarkable 66% compared to the monthly option!

Monthly vs. Yearly: A Clear Choice

While both plans offer access to our core app, the Yearly Plan provides significantly more value and exclusive features that truly enhance your child’s learning journey:

The choice is clear: the Yearly Plan is designed to give your child the most comprehensive and beneficial experience possible, at an unbeatable price. It’s not just about cost savings; it’s about unlocking the full potential of our platform. The inclusion of the Reading Blubs app means you’re supporting not only their speech but also their early literacy skills, creating a holistic approach to language development. Plus, with early access to new content and faster support, your child’s learning journey will always be at the forefront of innovation.

We believe in providing an immediate, effective, and joyful solution for children needing speech support. By choosing the Yearly Plan, you’re investing in continuous, high-quality, and comprehensive language development for your child, maximizing the value and impact of our “smart screen time.”

Ready to give your child the gift of confident communication and unlock all the exclusive features? We encourage you to create your account today and select the Yearly Plan to begin your 7-day free trial. Experience firsthand how Speech Blubs can empower your child to speak their minds and hearts, building confidence and fostering a love for communication.

Conclusion

Understanding “what age do kids speak” is a crucial part of the parenting journey, but remember that every child’s path to language is uniquely theirs. From those first delightful coos to the formation of complex sentences, speech development is a dynamic and fascinating process. While milestones offer helpful guidance, a child’s individual pace, environment, and inherent temperament all play significant roles. The most powerful tools you possess are consistent, loving interaction, active listening, and a willingness to engage with your child in language-rich experiences.

We’ve seen how simple daily activities like narrating, reading aloud, and playful imitation can profoundly impact a child’s ability to communicate. Knowing when to simply be patient and when to seek professional advice is also key, with preliminary screeners and pediatrician consultations serving as valuable resources if concerns arise.

At Speech Blubs, we are honored to be a part of your family’s communication adventure. Our mission, rooted in the personal experiences of our founders, is to provide an immediate, effective, and joyful solution for children needing speech support. Through our unique video modeling and “smart screen time” approach, we transform learning into an engaging, peer-led experience, fostering confidence, reducing frustration, and building key foundational skills. We’re committed to making every word, every sound, and every expression a step towards empowering your child to “speak their minds and hearts.”

Don’t wait to give your child the gift of confident communication. Download Speech Blubs today on the App Store or Google Play to begin your 7-day free trial. Remember to choose the Yearly plan to unlock our complete suite of features, including the Reading Blubs app, early access to updates, and 24-hour support, all while saving 66%. Let’s embark on this exciting journey together, creating joyful family learning moments and helping your child find their voice!

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the average age a child starts talking?

Most children say their first meaningful words between 12 and 18 months of age. However, the journey to talking begins much earlier with cooing (0-3 months) and babbling (4-12 months). By 18-24 months, many toddlers experience a “word explosion” and begin combining two words into simple phrases. It’s important to remember that this is an average, and there is a wide range of normal development.

2. What are the essential early language development milestones?

Key milestones include: cooing and gurgling (0-3 months), babbling (4-6 months), imitating sounds and gestures (7-12 months), saying first words and understanding simple commands (12-18 months), combining two words and having a vocabulary of 50+ words (18-24 months), and forming simple sentences (2-3 years). Consistent progress through these stages is more important than hitting exact dates.

3. How can parents help their children develop communication skills?

The best ways to encourage speech development involve everyday interactions. Talk to your child constantly, narrating activities and responding to their attempts at communication. Read aloud daily, sing songs, and play interactive games that encourage imitation. Limiting passive screen time and engaging in “smart screen time” with apps like Speech Blubs, which uses video modeling for active learning, can also be highly beneficial.

4. When should you worry if your child is not talking?

It’s advisable to consult your pediatrician or a speech-language pathologist if your child shows consistent delays in several milestones, such as no babbling by 12 months, fewer than 6-10 words by 18 months, or fewer than 50 words and no two-word phrases by two years old. Any sudden loss of previously learned speech skills also warrants immediate professional attention. Trust your parental instincts—early intervention can significantly help. You can also take our quick 3-minute preliminary screener for an initial assessment.