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​Every child develops at their own pace, but here are some common speech and language skills you can expect between ages 3–5 years and by the end of kindergarten.

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Ages 3–4 Years

Hearing and Understanding

• Hears you when called from another room

• Listens to TV or radio at the same volume as the rest of the family

• Understands words for some colors (red, blue, green)

• Understands words for some shapes (circle, square)

• Knows family words (brother, grandmother, aunt)

Talking

• Talks about activities at school or with friends

• Uses about four sentences at a time to tell what happened during the day

• They are understood by people outside the family most of the time

• Answers simple who, what, and where questions

• Asks when and how questions

• Says rhyming words (e.g., hat–cat)

• Uses pronouns (I, you, me, we, they)

• Uses plurals (toys, buses, birds)

• Puts together many sentences with 4+ words

• Speaks easily without repeating sounds or syllables

 

Ages 4–5 Years

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Hearing and Understanding

• Understands words for order (first, next, last)

• Understands words for time (yesterday, today, tomorrow)

• Follows longer directions (Put on pajamas, brush your teeth, then pick a book)

• Follows classroom instructions (Draw a circle around something you eat)

• Understands most of what is said at home and school

Talking

• Says almost all speech sounds (may still struggle with tricky ones like l, r, s, v, z, ch, sh, th)

• Can answer when asked, “What did you say?”

• Names, letters, and numbers

• Uses sentences with more than one action word (jump, play, get)

• Tells short stories

• Keeps a conversation going

• Adjusts speech depending on the listener or setting (e.g., using shorter sentences with younger children, a louder voice outside).

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By the End of Kindergarten

Listening

• Follow 1–2 step directions in order

• Listens to and understands age-appropriate stories

• Follows a simple conversation

Talking

• Speech is understood by strangers almost 100% of the time

• Answers simple yes/no questions

• Answers open-ended questions (What did you have for lunch?)

• Retells a story or describes an event

• Participates appropriately in conversations

• Starts conversations and shows interest in talking with others

 

 

Why Early Help Matters

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There are many reasons why a child may have speech or language delays. If you’re concerned, seeking help early can make a significant difference. Speech therapy can:

• Improve school readiness

• Build confidence and self-esteem

• Prevent problems from getting worse

• Support friendships and social skills

• Reduce frustration and behaviour problems 

 

📩 Have questions? Please email us to learn how we can help your child succeed.

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📖 Source: American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)