North Carolina Early Learning and Development Progressions: Birth to Five

Domain: NC Foundations for Early Learning: Language Development and Communication (LDC)

Subdomain: Learning to Communicate

Goal: Children speak audibly and express thoughts, and feelings, and ideas clearly.

Skill Progression: Possible developmentally appropriate sound errors

Age: 54-60 Months

Click here to go to all skills for ages 54-60 Months.

75% of children: No longer substitute non-palatal sounds for palatal (tongue on palate) sound at the beginning of a word (e.g., tai/shy)

Situations for Observation of Skill

Possible sound errors are included so that if observed they are not considered atypical. Many children will exhibit these errors as part of a normal sequence of development. If children persist in making these errors a further speech and language evaluation may be needed.

Elicitation Strategy

No elicitation needed.

Behavior Observed

No longer substitute non-palatal sounds for palatal (tongue on palate) sound at the beginning of a word (e.g., tai/shy).

Routines-based Intervention (Embedded Instruction)

Early childhood educators may need to explain to parents that some sound errors are not considered atypical. Many children will exhibit these errors as part of a normal sequence of development. However, if children persist in making these errors after a certain age, a speech and language evaluation may be needed.

 North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, 2015

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