Speech / Language

Children 24-30 months generally are able to do the following:

Receptive Language:

• Begins to follow directions with 2 steps (e.g., put the toy away and come to the door) 
• Starts to understand differences in meaning of opposites (e.g., in/out, stop/go, wet/dry, hot/cold) 
• Begins to understand sequencing of routine activities (e.g., “First sandwich, then cookie,” “After nap, we can play outside”) 
• Pays attention to speaker during a conversation

Expressive Language:

• Correctly uses at least 2 of the following “I”, “mine”, “you” 
• Routinely uses 2-3 word phrases
• Says the correct word when shown a picture and asks “What is this?” 
• Increasingly uses words to make basic wants and needs known 
• Dictates a short, simple story with a few connections between events (e.g., What they did that weekend) 
• Says please and thank you without prompting

Speech Intelligibility:

• Shows frustration when not understood by others
• Speaks so most communication 50% intelligible by familiar listeners