All skill areas

Communication & language

Available now

Communication is the foundation that makes everything else easier. For some children this means spoken words; for others, picture-based AAC, sign, or mixed approaches. Growingly's AAC board, suggested phrases, and saved sentences support every communication style equally.

⚡ In Growingly

🎯 Skills by age

Early years

ages 4–5

  • Pointing to indicate wants and needs
  • Using single words or symbols to request
  • Following simple one-step instructions
  • Naming familiar objects and people

School years

ages 6–8

  • Building short sentences (3–5 words)
  • Asking simple questions (what/where/who)
  • Following two-step instructions
  • Telling someone about your day

Pre-teen

ages 9–12

  • Holding back-and-forth conversation
  • Repairing communication breakdowns
  • Adjusting language for different listeners
  • Expressing complex emotions and opinions
These skills are written in plain language for caregivers, drawn from established frameworks (ESDM, PEERS, AAIDD adaptive behavior). Every child develops uniquely — use this as a guide, not a checklist.