Maestria

Milestones
Identifies body parts
Carries on 'conversation' with self and dolls
Asks "what's that?" And "where's my?"
Uses 2-word negative phrases such as "no want".
Forms some plurals by adding"s"; book, books
Has a 450 word vocabulary
Gives first name, holds up fingers to tell age
Combines nouns and verbs "mommy go"
Understands simple time concepts: "last night", "tomorrow"
Refers toself as "me" rather than by name
Tries to get adult attention: "watch me"
Likes to hear same story repeated
May say "no" when means "yes"
Talks to other children as well as adults
Solvesproblems by talking instead of hitting or crying
Answers "where" questions
Names common pictures and things
Uses short sentences like "me want more" or "me want cookie"
Matches 3-4 colors, knows big andlittle

Activities to encourage your child's language
Repeat new words over and over
Help your child listen and follow instructions by playing games: "pick up the ball," "Touch Daddy's s nose"Take your child on trips and talk about what you see before, during and after the trip
Let your child tell you answers to simple questions
Read books every day, perhaps as part of the bedtimeroutine
Listen attentively as your child talks to you
Describe what you are doing, planning, thinking
Have the child deliver simple messages for you (Mommy needs you, Daddy )
Carry on conversations withthe child, preferably when the two of you have some quiet time together
Ask questions to get your child to think and talk
Show the child you understand what he or she says by answering, smiling,and nodding your head
Expand what the; child says. If he or she says, "more juice," you say, "Adam wants more juice."

Between three and four

Milestones
Can tell a story
Has a sentence lengthof 4-5 words
Has a vocabulary of nearly 1000 words
Names at least one color
Understands "yesterday," "summer", "lunchtime", "tonight", "little-big"
Begins to obey requests like "put the block...