Yearly Milestones
3-4 Years
Speech & Sound
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Uses many early sounds (p, b, m, n, t, d, k, g, f, v, h, w, y)
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Speech is understood about 75% of the time
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Begins using s, sh, ch sounds (may still be inconsistent)
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Some phonological patterns may still appear (e.g., final sound deletion)
Social & Learning Skills
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Engages in pretend play
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Begins cooperative play with peers
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Takes turns with support
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Uses language to request, comment, and protest
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Follows simple routines
Language Development
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Uses 3–4+ word sentences
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Answers simple who, what, where questions
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Follows 2–3 step directions
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Uses plurals and -ing endings
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Vocabulary continues to grow rapidly
Red Flags
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Is hard to understand by familiar listeners
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Uses mostly 1–2 word phrases
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Has trouble answering basic questions
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Avoids peer play
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Becomes easily frustrated when communicating
Common Reasons Families
Seek Therapy
Many children experience these challenges—and targeted therapy can help them thrive.
Speech Sound
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Hard to understand
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Persistent “baby talk”
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Dropping final sounds
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Difficulty with s, sh, ch, j, r, or l
Language
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Short or unclear sentences
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Difficulty answering questions
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Trouble following directions
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Limited vocabulary
Social Communication
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Difficulty joining play
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Trouble taking turns or staying in conversations
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Limited pretend play
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Rigid or repetitive play themes
Behavior Related to Communication
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Frustration or tantrums
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Avoiding speaking
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Difficulty expressing needs
Kindergarten Readiness
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Difficulty learning letters or sounds
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Trouble telling stories in order
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Weak rhyming or sound awareness
You’ll learn how to support communication during:
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Play
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Books
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Routines
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Everyday conversations
Partnering With Families to Build
Early Skills
What Support Can Look Like
Speech
Improves clarity and intelligibility
Corrects speech sound errors
Reduces phonological patterns
Social Communication
Turn-taking
Conversation skills
Peer interaction
Emotion vocabulary
Language
Expands vocabulary
Builds grammar and sentence structure
Improves following directions and question answering
Early Literacy
Support
Planning and organization
Following multi-step directions
Homework and study strategies
Care Tailored to Your Child
Depending on your child’s needs, therapy may include speech therapy, occupational therapy, feeding and swallowing therapy, and/or myofunctional therapy.
FAQs
Preschool communication skills continue to develop, and many families have questions as language, play, and early learning skills grow. Below are answers to common questions families ask during the preschool years.
Don't Navigate Alone
If you’re noticing concerns with your child’s communication, play, or daily skills, you don’t have to figure it out alone. Our team is here to listen, answer questions, and help guide next steps with clarity and care.
Comprehensive Therapy Services
Clearer Speech & Language
