Communication Milestones

Speech Pathology Australia produced the Communication Milestones Kit¹ to provide information for parents and carers about the role of speech pathologists. The kit also assists parents and carers to find a speech pathologist if they are unsure about whether their child is having difficulty with his or her speech, language and communication.

Download the Communication Milestones Kit  (PDF versions accessible from within)

What’s in the kit?

The Communication Milestones Kit is a series of A4-sized downloadable information sheets and an A3-sized poster. These outline the talking and understanding milestones for children aged 1-5 years.

The information sheets and poster outline how early childhood educators and speech pathologists can work together to ensure that children reach these milestones within the expected timeframes.

The kit also presents information on the role of speech pathologists and how to find a speech pathologist.

The information sheets are a useful tool to start a conversation about a child who may be having difficulty with their speech, language and communication.

Understanding and speaking “between the flags”

Information sheet: 12 months

Information sheet: 18 months

Information sheet: 2 years

Information sheet: 3 years

Information sheet: 4 years

Information sheet: 5 years

A3-sized Communication Milestones Poster

Understanding and speaking “between the flags”

Children learn to communicate by interacting with early childhood educators, family, and friends. Early childhood educators and speech pathologists can support children to build their communication and keep them developing “between the flags”.

Early childhood educators and speech pathologists can work together to:

• find out which children are understanding and speaking “between the flags”
• create communication-supporting learning spaces
• help children with a range of communication needs.

Speech pathologists can also provide therapy to help children with:

• understanding and using pictures, symbols, signs, gestures, speech sounds, words and sentences
• taking turns and making eye contact
• building skills for later reading and spelling
• stuttering, voice and feeding difficulties.

Don’t “wait and see”

Concerned about a child’s communication? Contact Speech Pathology Australia.

Find a Speech Pathologist.

Communication Milestone poster sources

Speech Pathology Australia Find a speech pathologist.

Pepper, J., and Weitzman, E. (2004). It Takes Two to Talk: A Practical Guide for Parents of Children with Language Delays (4th Ed). Toronto: The Hanen Centre.

The Communication Trust. (n.d.). Universally speaking: The ages and stages of children’s communication development from birth to 5 years. Retrieved 2017 from www.thecommunicationtrust.org.uk/universallyspeaking

The Communication Trust (2014). Early identification and why it’s important for pupils in your school. Retrieved 2017, from www.thecommunicationtrust.org.uk/media/253193/1_4_early_identification_final_july_2014.pdf

Paul, R., and Norbury, C. F. (2012). Language disorders from infancy through adolescence (4th Ed). St. Louis, US: Elsevier Mosby.

Roth, F., and Worthington, C. (2011). Treatment resource manual for speech-language pathology (4th Ed). NY: Delmar.

You can learn more at:

• www.hanen.org
• www.thecommunicationtrust.org.uk/universallyspeaking