LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT
Every child - regardless of culture, language, or socioeconomic background - is born with the potential to learn human language. This potential unfolds naturally when the child is immersed in a rich language environment. The more language a child hears before they begin speaking, the more language they will be able to use once speech emerges.
Language development is not something we teach to babies. It is something they construct from the environment, through movement, experience, and meaningful human interaction.
Language and Movement Go Hand in Hand
Young children learn language through movement and experience. As they explore their environment, adults attach words to what the child is doing:
“You pushed it.”
“That made a sound.”
“This is a bell.”
Through repeated experiences, children build meaning. Both movement and language develop internally long before we see outward signs. Much is happening beneath the surface before a child ever speaks their first word.
A Universal Pattern of Language Acquisition
Language development follows the same basic pattern across cultures and languages:
Sounds before words
Words before phrases
Phrases before sentences
Simple sentences before complex sentences
A child’s first words are usually nouns, words that have meaning in their daily life. There is always internal absorption before external expression. Receptive language (what we understand) develops before expressive language (what we can say). This is true for adults as well as children.
Speak Normally, Children Love Real Language
It is not necessary to simplify or dumb down language for children. Young children are drawn to rich vocabulary and sophisticated words when they are used naturally. Between 6–12 months, babies understand far more than they can express. It is also common for physical development and language development to alternate. Crawling and babbling, or walking and talking, often take turns progressing rather than developing at the same time.
The Two Stages of Language Development
1. Pre-Linguistic Stage (Birth to ~10–12 months)
Birth to 2 months
Cooing and vowel sounds (aaa, ooo)
Repeating these sounds back supports communication
2 to 6 months
Undifferentiated babbling
Vowels and early consonants (gaga, baba)
Vocal play and sound exploration
6 to 12 months
Differentiated babbling
Sounds begin to match the language of the environment
Gestures such as pointing, waving, and looking toward named people or objects appear
Receptive language becomes visible
At the end of this stage, recognizable words may appear. This marks the transition to the linguistic stage. Adults should respond with clear, correct articulation. Not baby talk.
2. Linguistic Stage (12 to ~36 months)
12–18 months
Strong focus on nouns
“What is that?” becomes a central question
18–24 months
Verbs and simple grammar emerge
Two-word phrases become common
Children self-correct through exposure to spoken language
24–36 months
Expansion into simple sentences
Increasing complexity and clarity
Rich vocabulary modeling becomes essential
Children develop at different rates. Some speak in sentences at 18 months, others closer to 2.5 years. As long as development is progressing, this is typically within the range of normal. By age three, children should be using at least three-word sentences.
Bilingual Language Development
Children effortlessly absorb the languages they hear consistently. In bilingual homes, it is recommended that each adult consistently speak one language to the child. This helps the child associate language with the person. In multilingual environments, spoken language may emerge slightly later, but this is not a concern as long as comprehension and progression are present.
Language Guidelines for Adults
Respond to and reinforce babbling
Speak clearly and articulate carefully
Slow your speech
Use an appropriate volume
Model correct pronunciation naturally
Give language to real experiences
It is not about how many words a child hears, it is about how many words are spoken directly to them. The adult is the most important language material the child will ever have.
Music and Language Development
Language has rhythm, pitch, and musicality. Before speaking, children communicate through tone and sound patterns.
Music supports:
Phonetic awareness
Vocabulary development
Print awareness
Movement coordination
Songs combine repetition, rhythm, and movement making them a powerful tool for language development. This is why singing and movement are such an important part of the Montessori toddler environment.
Language Takeaways for Home
Talk to babies during care routines
Name body parts, people, and objects
Carry children through spaces and name what they see
Use pictures on the wall as language opportunities
Speak naturally and respectfully
Language learning is happening all the time.
Final Thoughts
Language development is a powerful, natural process driven by the child and supported by the environment. When adults speak clearly, intentionally, and respectfully, they provide the richest language material possible. The child does the work, we simply prepare the conditions.