How Much Does My Child Understand?

A child's understanding of speech — sometimes also referred to as "receptive language" — refers to their ability to understand and comprehend what they hear. Typically, young children are able to understand more than they are able to express. That's why it's so important to build understanding skills: they support the development of a child's talking skills.

Why receptive language matters

Receptive language skills are important for:

• Following instructions
• Answering questions
• Identifying objects and pictures
• Reading comprehension
• Understanding a story
• Accessing the curriculum and understanding school work

Because understanding underpins so much of a child's learning and communication, difficulties here can be easy to miss — children often develop clever ways to compensate by watching others, following routines, and picking up on visual cues.

Wondering what's typical at each age? Receptive language milestones can help you track your child's growth and development, and there are lots of simple ways to help your child understand instructions during everyday routines at home.