“Does {child_name} use grown-up sentences yet — full sentences with past, present and future tenses?”
Follow-up: “Has {he_she} started picking up new words and using them in {his_her} own way? Words like 'because', 'although', 'when'?”
Not yet
Mostly short phrases; tenses muddled
Emerging
Full sentences in some contexts; tenses and conjunctions inconsistent
Developing
Regular full sentences; uses past and future tense most of the time
Secure
Speaks in full sentences across past, present, future, with conjunctions like because, although, when
Recasting works wonders here — when {he_she} says something short, you say it back as a full sentence.