The process of learning to talk is so natural for toddlers, yet at times it may seem mysterious to parents. At some point, every mom or dad wonders, "Is my child developing speech and language skills at a 'normal' pace?" If there seems to be a speech problem, they are anxious to know if and how it can be corrected.

When Do Children Begin To Speak?

Generally speaking, speech and language development occurs in these stages:

• two to six months--babies begin to coo, vocalize, and babble.
• nine to 18 months--the first intelligible word is spoken, and a vocabulary of up to 20 words is acquired.
• 18 months to two years--vocabulary really skyrockets.

What Are the Developmental Norms for Speech?

• toddlers have a command of 200-300 words, and can learn one or two new words every day.
• two to three years--vocabulary has grown to about 1,000 words. Children can form simple sentences of three and four words, and can construct a sentence containing a subject and a verb.
• three to four years--vocabulary should be about 1,500 words. Sentence structure will be more complex. Children should be able to tell little stories and recount the recent past. They will typically struggle with negative words--no, not, can't, don't and won't--and will attempt to add endings to words such as s, es and ed.
• by age five--vocabulary generally exceeds 2,000 words. Children have mastered most sounds. They can construct sentences using correct grammar about 90 percent of the time. They should be able to express their feelings and follow three-step commands.

How Can Parents Help Their Children Develop Good Language Skills?

Teaching a child to communicate well doesn't need to be complicated. In fact, many language-building activities can be a regular part of your daily routine. Here are a few helpful suggestions from the book "Little Language For Little Ones" by speech-language pathologist Laura Dyer.

1. Limit the time your child spends sucking on (and talking around) pacifiers.*
   Children talk more often and more clearly when they don't have pacifiers available. An added bonus: Pediatricians have noted that ear infections are about 33 percent more frequent among children who use a pacifier often.
2. Limit the amount of time your child spends watching television and videos.
   Studies have shown that even watching "educational" programs puts children in a passive learning state, and can inhibit their early development. Children learn more effectively from active, hands-on experiences.
3. Be a good speech and language model for your child.
   Use eye contact, gestures, and demonstrations to make yourself understood. Speak slowly, use short sentences, and repeat words often. Be enthusiastic and encourage your child to speak to you. Give him enough time to respond.
4. Make learning language skills fun.
   An excellent way to do this is through finger-play games (such as the "Itsy Bitsy Spider"), interesting picture books, playing simple musical instruments, singing and acting out songs. Studies have shown that exposing children to music from an early age can help them learn more and remember what they learn. It also boosts speech and language abilities and improves their coordination. Music can even increase social skills and reduce stress.

To learn more, visit Laura Dyer's website. Her book is very easy to read and understand and contains lots of helpful information. A companion music CD extends the fun.

Ms. Zundel is a freelance writer and mother. She specializes in writing entertaining educational material for children in grades K-12.