LANGUAGE NORMS AT VARIOUS AGES

4 to 41/2 YEARS OLD                                                                6 to 7 YEARS OLD

--Understands approximately 2,000 to 2,500 words                       --Understands up to 26,000 words

--Knows "between", "above", "below", "top" and "bottom"             --Is aware of mistakes in others' speech

--Can say 1,500 words                                                                --Understands seasons of the year

--Mean Length of Sentence---just about 5 words                          --Mean Sentence Length---over 7 words 

--Uses possessives (the boy's car, the cat's food)                           --Uses "good" "better" and "best"

--Uses irregular plurals (child/children)

5 to 6 YEARS OLD

--Understands approximately 13,000 words

--Mean Length of Sentence--just about 7 words

--Understands opposites

--States similarities and differences between two objects

--Uses all pronouns consistently

--Uses superlative -est (biggest, tallest)