What and Why?
Parent probes receptive vocabulary and comprehension: identifying colors, shapes, object functions, action pictures, comparative adjectives, categories, and responses to logical questions. Covers nineteen language comprehension and conceptual milestones at 28-38mo.
Opens a guided voice session in TogetherTime.
What you'll need
4-6 familiar objects on table — cup, ball, shoe, spoon, book, apple or similar. Coloured objects if available. A heavier and lighter object of similar size.
How it works
- 1~120s
Start with naming. Point to each object and ask 'What is this?' Try all 5-6. Then: point to coloured objects one at a time and ask 'What colour is this?' Try red, blue, and yellow first. Then: hold up two objects — one bigger, one smaller — and ask 'your child, which one is heavier?' or 'Which one is bigger?' Tell me: how many objects does your child name correctly? Which colours? Does your child understand heavier/lighter or bigger/smaller?
Watch for: Child names 10 or more familiar objects
- 2~120s
Now let's test what things are FOR. Point to a cup and ask: 'What do you do with this?' Try 3-4 objects: a spoon, a book, a ball, a shoe. Does your child explain what they're for? Then: look at a picture book together. Point to someone running, eating, sleeping, or playing — 'What is the person doing?' Try 5 different action pictures. And: ask your child to say what an apple, dog, and car have in common — 'Are they the same or different kinds of things?' Tell me how each goes.
Watch for: Child knows actions or functions of 3 or more objects
- 3~90s
Three final tests. First: ask your child to point to body parts — go beyond nose and tummy: try elbow, chin, knee, wrist, forehead. How many? Second: listen over the next few minutes for whether your child talks about something that happened earlier today or yesterday — past tense events. Ask: 'What did you eat for breakfast?' Third: if your child is familiar with any days of the week or times of day, ask: 'What day is it?' or 'Is it morning or night?' Tell me all three.
Watch for: Child knows the names of at least four body parts
What this develops
- MilestoneCan the child correctly name at least one...Thinkingprimary
- MilestoneDoes the child know the names of at...Thinkingprimary
- MilestoneIf you show the child an object he/she...Thinkingprimary
- MilestoneCan the child identify at least one color...physicalprimary
- MilestoneDoes the child regularly use describing words such...Thinkingprimary
- MilestoneIf you point to an object, can the...Thinkingprimary
- MilestoneCan the child explain in words what common...Thinkingprimary
- MilestoneCan the child say what others like or...Thinkingprimary
- MilestoneCan the child talk about things that will...Thinkingprimary
- MilestoneCan the child talk about things that have...Thinkingprimary
- MilestoneDoes the child know the names of any...Thinkingprimary
- MilestoneKnows actions or functions of 3 or more...Thinkingprimary
- MilestonePoints to parts of wholeThinkingprimary
- MilestoneNames 10 objectsThinkingprimary
- MilestoneUnderstands "more”Thinkingprimary
- MilestoneIdentifies 2 or more coloursThinkingprimary
- MilestoneKnows use of objectsThinkingprimary
- MilestoneIdentifies 5 action picturesThinkingprimary
- MilestoneGives logical response to a questionThinkingprimary
- MilestoneCategorizes thingsThinkingprimary
- MilestoneUnderstands adjective "faster"Thinkingprimary
- MilestoneNames actions (5)Thinkingprimary
- MilestoneShows understanding of the difference between "on", "over" and "under" (for example, places an object "under" the table when asked to do so)Thinkingprimary
- MilestoneUnderstands most sentencesThinkingprimary
- MilestoneUnderstands the difference between heavy and lightThinkingprimary
- MilestoneNames at least one color correctlyThinkingprimary
- MilestoneNames four colors correctlyThinkingprimary