2-3 Years

Language Explosion

• Receptive:
  • Understands the meanings of some simple adjectives and numbers that describe (e.g., one, all, hot, cold, empty, full, happy, sad, big, little).
  • Identifies parts of an object (e.g., cars have wheels, doors, and lights).
  • Understands that objects can be grouped by categories (e.g., items you can wear).
  • Understands prepositions (e.g., in, on, under).
  • Follows two-to-three-step directions (e.g., get the book and put in on the table).
  • Understands familiar and simple fingerspelled words, including their own name.
  • Repeats six-to-seven-word sentences modeled for them.
  • Understands about 900 words.

• Expressive:
  • Uses simple three-to-four-word sentences and questions.
  • Tells simple stories about present situations.
  • Uses 250-500 words or more.
  • Gives their full name and age when asked.
  • Counts to five on their own.
  • Names at least three colors and can match colors when asked.
  • Answers questions with the words yes or no.
  • Labels objects, animals, and people in pictures or in their environment.
  • Uses possessives and more pronouns (e.g., I, my, your, he, she, it, his, her).
  • Uses negation (e.g., no, none, not, don’t like, don’t know, not yet).
  • Uses simple adjectives and numbers to describe pictures or objects (e.g., small, big, hot, cold, soft, two apples, three dogs).
  • Uses simple classifiers (CL) to describe objects and show movement (e.g., CL:O for POLE, CL:3 for CAR DRIVING FORWARD).
  • Uses lexicalized signs (e.g., #BUS, #ICE).
  • Uses quantity words (e.g., all, a lot, many).
  • Asks simple two-to-three-word questions (who, what, where, yes/no). In ASL, this includes using non-manual markers (raised/squinted eyebrows).
  • Asks why and how questions.
  • Uses prepositions (e.g., in, on, under, above, below, next to).
  • Uses more complex handshapes (e.g. B, F, O) but substitutes basic handshapes at times (e.g., 5 for W for WATER).
  • Correctly produces most vowels and the consonants b, m, p, d, t, n, h, and w in words.
  • Uses -ing verbs (e.g., eating, running).
  • Uses some plurals (e.g., birds, toys, snacks).
  • Gives one- and two-step directions to others (e.g., you do it, sit down and eat).
  • Uses words to express emotions and feelings (e.g., happy, sad, mad, scared).

• Pre-Literacy:
  • Holds book with two hands and turns pages one by one.
  • Words are becoming clearer but may not be understood by everyone.
  • Answers simple questions about a story.
  • Recites parts of familiar stories, songs, and nursery rhymes.
  • Enjoys stories and imitates the actions, facial expressions, movement, and other characteristics of characters from a story.
  • Imitates simple lines and shapes with a crayon.

2-3 Years Michigan Language Milestones [PDF]