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Early language & late talkers

First words, play and everyday routines that grow language from birth to age 5.

Most children say their first words around their first birthday and begin combining two words around age 2. Some take longer. A “late talker” is a toddler who understands well and communicates with gestures, but uses fewer words than expected for their age.

The articles below explain how language grows through play and everyday routines, which strategies help at home, and why it makes sense not to simply wait and see. Many late talkers catch up, but it is hard to know in advance which ones will, so an assessment is a reasonable step if you have concerns.

In bilingual families, count your child’s words in all of their languages together. A speech-language pathologist can help you sort out what is typical and what needs support.

Illustration of a bowl of purée with a spoon, soft pieces of food and a small open cup, for the guide to baby feeding milestones from 0 to 12 monthsOral habits & myofunctional therapyBaby feeding milestones, 0 to 12 months: how your baby's mouth learns to eatOctober 15, 2026Illustration of a calendar with one date checked and speech bubbles, for the guide to speech therapy waiting lists in QuébecAssessmentWaiting for speech therapy in Québec: what happens on the list and what to do meanwhileOctober 13, 2026Title 'Language milestones from 0 to 5 for bilingual children' beside a path from age 0 to 5 with Bonjour, Hello, ¡Hola!, مرحبا and Γειά σου bubbles.Early language & late talkersLanguage milestones from 0 to 5 for bilingual children (complete guide and printable chart)October 11, 2026Toddler playing with wooden blocks and toy animals on a rug while a mother sits nearby watching attentivelyEarly language & late talkersIs My Child a Late Talker? A Guide for Montreal ParentsMay 12, 2026Early language & late talkersStimulating Language and Speech in the Early Years – The Whats and Hows (Part 3)April 9, 2026Collage of preschool toys: a jungle treehouse with animal figures, a farm barn, a potato-head toy and a school bus, Part 1Early language & late talkersToys and Play Tips (Stimulate language and speech) – Part 1January 15, 2025Row of children from crawling baby to school-age child, showing growth stages, titled The Whats and Hows Part 1Early language & late talkersStimulating Language and Speech in the Early Years – The Whats and Hows (Part 1)January 10, 2025Mother smiling and holding her baby’s hand as the baby babbles to her on a sofa, with the Part 1 titleEarly language & late talkersChildren developing language through early communication strategies – Part 1March 10, 2024Mother smiling and holding her baby’s hand as the baby babbles to her on a sofa, with the Part 2 titleEarly language & late talkersChildren developing language through early communication strategies – Part 2March 10, 2024Mother smiling and holding her baby’s hand as the baby babbles to her on a sofa, with the Part 3 titleEarly language & late talkersChildren developing language through early communication strategies – Part 3March 10, 2024Close-up of a newborn baby’s face beside handwritten text reading “Talk to me, I’m listening”Early language & late talkersLanguage development milestones 0-3 years – Early childhood communication stagesMarch 10, 2024Three toddlers sitting on a play mat stacking and lifting colourful oversized building blocksEarly language & late talkersPre-linguistic and play development – Children learn through play!March 10, 2024Row of children from crawling baby to school-age child, showing growth stages, titled The Whats and Hows Part 2Early language & late talkersStimulating Language and Speech in the Early Years – The Whats and Hows (Part 2)March 10, 2024Row of children from crawling baby to school-age child, showing growth stages, titled The Whats and Hows Part 4Early language & late talkersStimulating Language and Speech in the Early Years – The Whats and Hows (Part 4)March 10, 2024Collage of preschool toys: a jungle treehouse with animal figures, a farm barn, a potato-head toy and a school bus, Part 2Early language & late talkersToys and Play Tips (Stimulate language and speech) – Part 2March 10, 2024Collage of preschool toys: a jungle treehouse with animal figures, a farm barn, a potato-head toy and a school bus, Part 3Early language & late talkersToys and Play tips (Stimulate language and speech) – Part 3March 10, 2024

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