What is the expected language skill level for a 2-3 year old toddler?
Explanation & Rationale
Choice A rationale This is a significant underestimation of a 2-3 year old's language skills. While a toddler can follow commands, their expressive language is also developing rapidly. They typically transition from single words to multi-word sentences and have a vocabulary of several hundred words. The lack of speech would be a cause for concern and would require further developmental evaluation. Choice B rationale This is the expected language skill level for a 2-3 year old toddler. At this stage, a toddler's vocabulary expands significantly, and they begin to combine words into simple sentences. This two-word stage, often called "telegraphic speech," is a key milestone and indicates the child is beginning to understand and apply grammatical rules. Choice C rationale This is an overestimation of a 2-3 year old's language skills. While their vocabulary is growing, their speech is not typically fully clear or understandable to all listeners. They may still mispronounce words or omit certain sounds. Full clarity of speech is usually not achieved until 4 or 5 years of age. Choice D rationale This is an overestimation of a 2-3 year old's vocabulary. The typical vocabulary for a 2-year-old is around 50 words, and by age 3, it may increase to around 200-300 words. A vocabulary of 800-900 words is more characteristic of a 4 to 5 year old and is not the expected norm for this age group.