1. Communicate positively with Children on an ongoing basis
Communication Milestones

2. Birth to three months
Infants communicate unintentially with sounds and actions
Cry when hungry, cold or uncomfortable
Look at caregivers face and move arms and body reflexively

3. Two way process begins When caregiver responds appropriately
Infant: Cries
Caregiver: Oh dear! What is the matter? Smiles and picks up infant
Infant: Stops crying and appears to focus on caregiver’s face
Caregiver: You just wanted a cuddle – that’s right now. Are you hungry?
Infant: Cooing sound, burps.
Caregiver: Oh, that’s what you were telling me. Better now?

4. Three to 12 Months
Infant’s ability to communicate develops very quickly
More sounds – babbles to self and others
Show interest and gain comfort from familiar voices, singing & conversation
Active communicators using sounds and actions to take turns
Harsh, angry or loud voices or sudden sounds cause distress

5. Active partners in communication
Infant: Gazing at teddy Caregiver: Places blanket over teddy. Where has teddy gone? Infant: Looks at caregiver and smiles, pulls at blanket, laughs when teddy appears. Caregiver: Peek-a-boo, you found teddy Infant: Looks at teddy, shakes blanket Caregiver: Will I do it again? Hides teddy Infant: Smiles, looks at blanket and back to caregiver Caregiver: The blanket, yes, under the blanket. Where is teddy? Find teddy. Infant: Pulls blanket off teddy and giggles
Links to Cognitive development: Object permanence
Surprise, expectation – think about “ring a ring a rosie” etc.

6. Twelve months to two years
Toddlers use sounds, some words and non-verbal communication
Understand and use gestures and body language
Begin to associate words with familiar people, objects and actions
Understand more words than they can say

7. Toddlers are active communicators
Caregiver: Show me your tummy Toddler: Looks at tummy, pulls up shirt Caregiver: Where’s Daddy Toddler: Points at door

8. Toddlers can Communicate with intention
Initiate interaction using communication
Communicate for different purposes
More capable communicators than people think
Identify needs, greet people, draw attention to self, label objects, protest, show off, ask for comfort
Participate as equals and introduce themselves into conversations

9. Toddlers express ideas using simple language, one or two-word sentences
Caregiver: Here Tom – catch the ball Toddler: Points to children in sandpit. Truck, um truck. Caregiver: Yes, they have a truck Toddler: Mine... Truck gone Caregiver: Ah! Did someone take you truck? Toddler: Mmm, Truck brrrmmmm, brmmmm!

10. Two to three years Sentences extend to complex sentences and grammar
They make mistakes but meaning is clear
Me want a banana
All gone doggie?
Mine balloon broke
He sick, poor him

11. The ‘here and now’ I am a big girl now. I got boots I want more juice
Me no want spoon want fork
The big dog all gone
Begin to appreciate rules of language, wait to speak their turn and listen to others.
Use ‘me’ and ‘I’ to indicate self-awareness.

12. Three to five years Use longer sentences and complex grammar
May use tenses and negatives correctly to talk about past, future and things they have done
Communicate to think, imagine, understand and to express self awareness
Vocabulary – 5,000 words and understand more words
Sentences are longer and more complex.
Tell stories, follow stories, remember poems/songs and enjoy humour
Can follow one-two step instructions.

13. Language of preschooler
I think I’ll go outside to play My dad’s truck uses lots of petrol Let’s put the baby horse to sleep Jon and me built a big tower