The American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA) website is a fantastic resource, not only for SLPs and SLP students, but for parents as well. It provides information for both children and adults on topics such as hearing and balance, speech, language, and swallowing.

Below is a link to ASHA’s page discussing the typical course of speech and language development throughout your child’s elementary school years. Clicking on a specific grade level will bring you to a listing of listening, speaking, reading, and writing milestones for that grade level.

http://www.asha.org/public/speech/development/communicationdevelopment.htm

I believe reading through these lists will help parents understand what the “right” stages are in development for their children, especially if they are first time parents. Continuous growth in the areas of speech and language is crucial for successful communication throughout the child’s lifetime. Therefore, if you notice any delay you should talk to your child’s pediatrician to see if they recommend an evaluation by a Speech-Language Pathologist. Everyone has the right to be able to express his or herself and communicate effectively. SLPs help in this learning process.