Using Language
Expressive language is the ability to use spoken language. Lots of different skills are required to put our thoughts and ideas into words and sentences. Talking involves planning, organising and saying a message.
Babies first make noises such as crying, cooing and gurgling. They will start to make babbling noises, including strings of sounds (e.g. 'bababa').
By their first birthday, many children will use gestures such as pointing and waving to help with their communication. Their range of babbling sounds will grow and most children will start to use their first words.
By 2 years old, most children will use some everyday words including names, objects and actions. Once they have around 50 single words, they will start to join words together (e.g. 'more juice', 'Mummy's cup'). Their vocabulary often increases rapidly at this stage.
At 3 years old, most children can string a few words together into simple sentences (e.g. 'me want more juice'). They will use different types of words to describe things and to ask simple questions. Their grammar and sentence structure is still developing.
Most 4 year olds will use long, largely well-formed sentences. They will still have some grammatical errors (e.g. 'I runned'), but they can tell a story in a reasonable sequence. They may ask lots of questions, including 'Why?'
Some children have difficulty using language to express themselves. They may be later to start using their first words or to start combining words together. Some children have difficulty learning or recalling words. They may experience difficulties forming sentences, developing grammar or organising their ideas.
