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This is a helpful PDF to understand what speech and language are and what parents and caregivers should be looking for in their child's development.

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Parents, caregivers, educators, and health care professionals need to be aware of age-typical speech, communication, and language development so that delays can be identified and addressed. Early intervention should be implemented as soon as possible, this link provides age-typical communication development from birth until the age of 5.

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Here are some tips to help families support their child's speech and language development:

Talk about what you're doing, what your child is doing, and what your child sees. Use longer sentences as your child grows older.

Communicate with your child in the languages that you are most comfortable using.

Use a lot of different words with your child. Don't worry about using big words. Children enjoy new and unusual words.

Listen and respond to your child.

Help your child listen. Give directions for your child to follow.

Have your child's hearing tested if you find yourself repeating a lot or using a loud voice.

Tell stories to your child a lot. Read to your child as much as you can.

Ask questions and talk about what happened in the story. Read to your child in the languages they are learning.

Don't interrupt your child to correct their speech sounds. It's okay if your child makes some mistakes with sounds. Say the sounds correctly when you talk.

Ask questions that need more than a yes or no answer. Encourage your child to ask you questions.

Set limits for screen time. Use that time for talking, reading, and playing together.

Don't wait to get help if you're concerned. You know your child best. Getting help early can stop later problems with behavior, learning, reading, and social relationships.

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ASHA's communication milestones are designed to help you know what to expect as your child grows and develops-and to know when to seek the guidance of an audiologist or speech language pathologist.

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A milestone is a specific skill or behavior that a child can typically achieve within a certain age range. Milestones help parents and caregivers understand if their child is developing typically, and can help identify potential developmental delays. This link to the CDC provides age-typical milestones for children from birth to age 5.

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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

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Skills such as taking a first step, smiling for the first time, and waving "bye bye" are called developmental milestones. Children reach milestones in how they play, learn, speak, act, and move.

Click on the age of your child to see the milestones:

"Learn the Signs. Act Early." materials are not a substitute for standardized, validated developmental screening tools.

Special acknowledgments to the subject matter experts and others who contributed to the review of data and selection of developmental milestones, especially Paul H. Lipkin, MD, Michelle M. Macias, MD, Julie F. Pajek, PhD, Judith S. Shaw, EdD, MPH, RN, Karnesha Slaughter, MPH, Jane K. Squires, PhD, Toni M. Whitaker, MD, Lisa D. Wiggins, PhD, and Jennifer M. Zubler, MD.
Sincere gratitude to Natalia Benza, MD and José O. Rodríguez, MD, MBA for their thoughtful review of the Spanish-language translation of these milestones.

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“learn the signs. act early.” milestones

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Developmental milestones are things most children can do by a certain age. Track your child's milestones and talk with your child's doctor at every visit about the milestones your child has reached

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Atypical Speech and Language Development

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Atypical Speech and Language Development

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It is important to look out for atypical speech and language development in children to identify any delays in a child's development so that timely intervention can be implemented. This link provides information and how to know if a child's speech and language development is atypical.

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Atypical Communication in Young Children - AbilityPath

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Late-talking children are those at age two with a vocabulary of fewer than 50 words and who use limited or no two- or three-word combinations, such as “more juice.”

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For anyone who is interested or in need of insurance for themselves and their family.

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If you suspect that your child may be developmentally delayed or have a disability, it is important to check eligibility with Regional Centers, which provide support and services to individuals who are developmentally delayed or disabled from birth until death.

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CA Department of Developmental Services - Agency through which the State of California provides services and supports to individuals with developmental disabilities.

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Eligibility Assessments

Regional centers provide diagnosis and assessment of eligibility and help plan, access, coordinate and monitor the services and supports that are needed because of a developmental disability. There is no charge for the diagnosis and eligibility assessment.

Once eligibility is determined, a case manager or service coordinator is assigned to help develop a plan for services, tell you where services are available, and help you get the services. Most services and supports are free regardless of age or income.

A person-centered planning approach is used to decide where a person with developmental disabilities will live and the kinds of services needed. Everyone who uses regional center services has a planning team that includes the individual using the services, family members, regional center staff and anyone else who is asked to be there by the individual. The team ensures that services support the individual's choices including where they live, how they spend the day, and their hopes and dreams for the future.

There is a requirement for parents to share the cost of 24-hour out-of-home placements for children under age 18. This share depends on the parents' ability to pay. For further information, see Parental Fee Program. There may also be a co-payment requirement for other selected services. For further information, see Family Cost Participation Program.

Infants & Toddlers

Infants and toddlers (age 0 to 36 months) who are at risk of having developmental disabilities or who have a developmental delay may also qualify for services. The criteria for determining the eligibility of infants and toddlers is specified in Section 95014 of the California Government Code. In addition, individuals at risk of having a child with a developmental disability may be eligible for genetic diagnosis, counseling and other prevention services. For information about these services, see Early Start.

Eligibility is established through diagnosis and assessment performed by regional centers.

Children & Adults

To be eligible for services, a person must have a disability that begins before the individual's 18th birthday that is expected to continue indefinitely and present a substantial disability. Qualifying conditions include intellectual disability, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, autism, Down syndrome and other disabling conditions as defined in Section 4512 of the California Welfare and Institutions Code.

Eligibility is established through diagnosis and assessment performed by regional centers.

Services & Supports

DDS is responsible for designing and coordinating services for Californians with developmental disabilities. DDS contracts with regional centers to plan, access, coordinate and monitor these services.

Some of the services and supports provided by the regional centers include:

Information and referral

Assessment and diagnosis

Counseling

Lifelong individualized planning and service coordination

Purchase of necessary services included in the individual program plan

Resource development

Outreach

Assistance in finding and using community and other resources

Advocacy for the protection of legal, civil and service rights

Early intervention services for at risk infants and their families

Genetic counseling

Family support

Planning, placement, and monitoring for 24-hour out-of-home care

Training and educational opportunities for individuals and families

Community education about developmental disabilities

Last modified: January 4, 2020

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State of California & Department of Developmental Services

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Regional Center Eligibility & Services - CA Department of Developmental Services

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Eligibility Assessments Regional centers provide diagnosis and assessment of eligibility and help plan, access, coordinate and monitor the services and supports that are needed because of a developmental disability. There is no charge for the diagnosis and eligibility assessment. Once eligibility is determined, a case manager or service coordinator is assigned to help develop a plan for...

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How to Encourage a Child's Speech and Language Development

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How to Encourage a Child's Speech and Language Development

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Talking to your child and explaining what you are doing or what is going on around them is an amazing way to help your child develop speech and language skills. When speaking with children, it is important not to use baby talk and to model correct grammar and language for your child. Frequently reading with your child and explaining pictures throughout the story supports children's language development and as a bonus, introduces them to print. This link provides a list of age-appropriate activities for parents and caregivers to enjoy with their child while supporting their speech and language development from birth to age 6.

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Activities to Encourage Speech and Language Development

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There are many ways you can help your child learn to understand and use words. See a speech-language pathologist if you have concerns.

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Literacy-rich environments support children not just in their language development but in their reading and writing as well. Literacy-rich environments include the library, bookstores, and museums. The provided link is to First 5 California, an initiative in San Bernardino County that encourages literacy in families.

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Reach Out & Read Inland Empire is an organization giving young children in San Bernardino and Riverside counties a foundation for success by incorporating books into pediatric care and encouraging families to read aloud together.

A program of the American Academy of Pediatrics California Chapter 2, the research-proven, school readiness program is based in physician offices throughout the Inland Empire. Reach Out and Read has been a funded partner of F5SB since 2019 with doctors, nurse practitioners and physician assistants providing guidance to parents on the importance of reading aloud to their young children and giving an age-appropriate book to take home at every well-child visit.

According to Reach out & Read Program Coordinator Delesa Barnes, during well-child visits for children ages 6 months through 5 years, the provider starts the visit by giving the child a new, developmentally appropriate book to take home, which over time builds a child's book collection to 8-10 new books before kindergarten.

Reach Out and Read sites also create literacy-rich environments that may include gently used books for waiting room use or for siblings to take home.

In fiscal year 2022, 158 providers participated and distributed 32,339 books to their patients, further supporting First 5 San Bernardino's strategic priority initiatives of health and quality learning.

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Partner Spotlight - Reach out and Read - first5sanbernardino

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Reach Out & Read Inland Empire is an organization giving young children in San Bernardino and Riverside counties a foundation for success by incorporating books into pediatric care and encouraging...

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The provided link is to the San Bernardino County Library, where they have activities, programs, and a list of all libraries in San Bernardino County.

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Join The In-N-Out Burger Reading Program March 2, 2025- April 13, 2025 Children 4-12 years old can earn FREE food. Start Reading Today! Happening Now: Session 2 March 2- April…

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The following link is to SoCal Museums, where parents and caregivers can find a library close by to take their children. Museums support speech and language development through interactive exhibits and foster an interactive learning environment. Parents and caregivers can support speech and language development through asking their children open-ended questions, talking about exhibits, and providing the opportunity to discuss what the family saw and learned.