Tiny Voices, Big Growth: Speech and Language Milestones in Preschoolers

Aug 25

It’s one of the most exciting stages of development: your toddler becomes a preschooler, and suddenly their world is full of words, questions, stories…and plenty of big feelings. But how do you know if your child’s speech and language skills are on track?

At Sound Speech & Hearing Clinic, we often hear questions like:
“Should they be speaking in full sentences?”
“How much should I be able to understand them?”
“Are they ready for preschool or TK?”

The preschool years (ages 3–5) are a time of rapid communication growth, and each child develops at their own pace. Still, there are key milestones that help us determine if a child is building the foundational skills they’ll need for school and social success.

📈 Typical Speech and Language Milestones

While individual differences are expected, here’s a quick snapshot of what many preschoolers can do:

By Age 3:

Use 3–4 word sentences
Name familiar objects and people
Follow 1–2 step directions
Be understood by familiar listeners most of the time

By Age 4:

Use full sentences with some grammatical structures (e.g., “I don’t want it”)
Ask lots of “why” and “how” questions
Tell short stories or recount daily events
Be understood by most people, even outside the family

By Age 5:

Speak clearly enough for strangers to understand them
Use correct grammar most of the time
Express ideas, feelings, and imagination through language
Follow multi-step directions and retell stories with detail

🧠 What If My Child Isn’t There Yet?

Sometimes kids need a little extra support to get their communication skills blooming. That might look like:

Speech sound delays (difficulty pronouncing certain letters)
Limited vocabulary or short sentence use
Trouble understanding directions or staying on topic
Frustration when trying to express ideas

Early intervention makes a huge difference. In preschool years, the brain is especially adaptable, and with the right strategies, kids can make tremendous progress.

🌱 How We Help at Sound

Our pediatric team specializes in fun, play-based speech and language therapy tailored to your child’s developmental needs. We offer:

Comprehensive evaluations to pinpoint areas of concern
Individualized therapy goals focused on real-life communication
Family coaching to carry over progress at home and school

We also coordinate with teachers and preschool staff to support your child in all their learning environments.

💬 Trust Your Gut

If something feels “off” with your child’s speech, language, or listening, even if others tell you to wait, it’s worth checking in. You don’t need a referral to start the process with us.

✨ Let’s give your tiny talker the tools to grow with confidence. Reach out anytime to schedule an evaluation, we’re here to support your family every step of the way.

Jody Vaynshtok

Jody is a California-licensed speech language pathologist with eight years of industry and clinical experience. She has worked with both adult and pediatric populations during her time at private practice, birth-to-three, and hospital facilities. She is experienced in the assessment and treatment of a variety of communication and cognitive disorders. In addition, Jody has a passion for working with adults looking to achieve clearer communication. Jody received her BS in Speech and Hearing Sciences and MS in Medical Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Washington. She was a part of the Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford’s cleft and craniofacial clinic participating in the multidisciplinary assessment and treatment of children born with craniofacial abnormalities. She holds a staff position at UCSF and is the lead speech language pathologist for the department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery’s Hearing Loss Clinic. When she's not busy having fun with her clients Jody enjoys spending time with her husband, Anton, friends and family. And if she's not headed out somewhere fun for dinner, you might find her at Bar Method working out!