By 1 year: Responds to simple spoken requests, uses simple gestures, and says a few words. By 2 years: Uses simple sentences with 2 to 4 words, follows simple instructions, and points to objects when named. By 3 years: Follows two- or three-step instructions, can name most familiar things, and speaks well enough for strangers to understand most of the time. By 4 years: Knows some basic rules of grammar, tells stories, and can sing a song from memory. By 5 years: Speaks very clearly, uses future tense, and tells longer stories.
