Grammar for babies toddlers and preschoolers

Most parents associate grammar with elementary or middle school. It’s copying things off the board, or filling out worksheets.

Regardless of whether you like it or hate it, grammar is important. It is the foundation upon which we understand, build, and express our thoughts.

And : grammar is important for kids, too. It’s importance starts right when he starts saying his first word.

What you can do now

You can be a crucial part of your child's grammar acquisition. To do this, all you have to do is focus on simple grammar forms, and when they are typically acquired. You can see if your child is keeping up, and even give them a boost by working on the grammar form that is next on the list.

Take a grammar form – and repeat and model it to your child over and over again in play, or in reading, or in daily activities. Your child’s brain is a sponge. He will eventually pick up and repeat.

The following milestones are based on Brown’s morphemes. Child psychologist Roger Brown studied many children from ages 1-5, and saw that word parts emerged in a similar order across children. The ages have been rounded to the nearest ½ year for simplicity.

The forms are also presented in the rough order in which they are typically acquired.

Age 1.5 – 2: Ing verbs

At around this age, a child will start saying verbs with “ing” added to the end. For example, “eating”, “sleeping”, and “drinking”.

Adding the “ing” means that your child is moving from 1 “morpheme” or “word unit” like “eat” to 2 “morphemes” or “word units” like “eating.”

Age 2 – 2.5: In, on.

“On table” or “In box” are examples. Your child will begin combining words to make 2-word utterances at this age.

Age 2.5- 3: Plural “s.”

This is another “word part.” Your child will start saying “cats” instead of “cat” when he sees two cats in his book.

Age 2 – 3.5: Possessive “s”

Your child will say “Daddy’s plate” instead of “Daddy plate.”

Age 2 – 4 : Past tense, Irregular

Your child will start saying words like “fell” or “ate” instead or “fall” or “eat”, or instead of “falled” or “eated.”

Age 2.5 – 3.5: “Is”

For example, “she is cold,” or “he is happy.”

Age 2.5 – 4: Articles “a”, “an” and “the”

“The box”, “An apple,” or “A girl” in short phrases or in simple sentences.

Age 2 – Age 4: Past tense, regular.

Your child will start saying “I jumped” instead of “I jump”, or “I shouted” instead of “I shout.”

Age 2 – Age 4: Present tense, regular, for 3rd person

Your child will start saying “He jumps” instead of “He jumped”, or “He shouts” instead of “He shout.”

Age 2.5 – Age 4: Irregular present tense

She “does” it.

Age 2.5 – 4: “is” used to support another verb (known as “contractible auxiliary”)

She “is” singing.

Age 2.5 – 4 (last) : Contracting “is” to ‘s

“She’s dancing” or “She’s here.”

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So there you have it! Grammar for little ones.

It is a little extra work to track your child’s communication milestones, and then take the extra time to repeat grammar form over and over again.

But remember : your child’s communication is investment in future learning. Just a little targeted language per day can make a huge difference in his foundation.

The time is definitely worth it.

Happy Talking!

Disclaimer : Smarter Speech is a pediatric speech therapy / speech-language pathology practice for toddlers and children providing in-home and teletherapy services in and around Mountain View, CA and Los Gatos, CA. Smarter Speech Blog aims to provide free speech and language tips for parents educators and therapists. However, this post is not providing speech-language pathology services. This is general information, not speech -language pathology or speech therapy. This article does not assume or create a client – SLP relationship. The author is not liable for any losses or damages due to actions or failure to act based on the content in this article. If you need assistance with a child’s speech or language needs, please contact a speech-language pathologist in your area.