Speech and Language Milestones for School-Age Children: What Every Perth Parent Should Know
Those first day of school pics - so cute, right? But there is something vastly more significant going on behind (and beneath) those crisply new uniforms and oversized backpacks. Your child is on the brink of communicating with the world in a way they never have before.
The school-age years between about 5 and 12 are critical for speech and language development. This is the age at which children typically transition from basic sentences about their favourite toys to sophisticated conversations regarding friendship drama, homework complaints and those gloriously weird hypotheses as for why the sky is blue.
But here’s what many parents don’t know: speech milestones for school-aged children are important for more than just getting the words right.
They are about laying the foundation for communication that your child will use throughout his or her life. And every now and then, having an idea of what you’re searching for can be all-important.
The Big Picture: Why These Years Matter So Much
Language development 5-12 years Think of language at this age as your child’s communication getting its driver’s licence. Yes, they’ve been “driving” around the house and on the playground for years now, but suddenly they’re on a new communication superhighway traveling with real speed and complexity.
At this age, they perfect the art of a good old chinwag.
They also learn to read between the lines, grasp sarcasm (well, part of the time) and acquire the vocabulary they need to articulate increasingly complex ideas. Pretty amazing when you think about it.
Here, at CommuniKids Speech Therapy Perth we treat hundreds of school-age kids every year. What continues to surprise our speech pathologists is just how significantly we see communication skills develop in this time frame – only when children’s development is appropriately supported.
Age 5-6: The Foundation Years
The five- and six-year-olds are communication sponges. They are literally sponges for new words – they’re learning a new 5-10 words on virtually a daily basis. That’s essentially the equivalent of learning an entire small novel’s worth of words in a year!
What you should be seeing:
When speaking for strangers to be able to understand most of the time
5/6 words in a sentence, standards based sentences
Be able to craft simple stories with a beginning, middle and end
Concept of time such as "yesterday," "tomorrow" and "next week”.
Being able to understand and remember 2-3 stage instructions without needing it repeated
Your child should be able to talk comfortably with their teacher, make friends on the playground and even explain what happened during their day (even if some of the details are a little creative). If you’re always saying “What’d you say?” or if whispers about communication arise in school, it could be time for a speech pathology review.
Red flags at this age include:
Speech that's difficult for unfamiliar adults to understand. Persistent difficulty with common sounds like "r," "l," “s”, or "th." Trouble following simple classroom instructions when other children can manage them easily.
Reluctance to speak in social situations or limited vocabulary compared to peers. Teachers expressing concerns about participation or challenges with early literacy skills that impact communication.
Age 7-8: The Conversation Masters
Seven and eight-year olds are when kids really begin to shine as conversationalists. They’re developing what we call “age by communication skills:” knowing the social rules, taking turns in conversation and adjusting how they speak to different people.
This is the time when most children have learned to produce most speech sounds, even those tricky ones that may have been stumping them earlier. And they’re building stronger literacy abilities that affect their language development, too.
Typical milestones include:
The use of compound and complex sentences
Comprehending humor, jokes and riddles and simple wordplay
Modulating their language for different audiences (more polite when speaking to teachers, relaxed with friends)
Being able to get instructions and follow and remember a multi-step sequence
Reading early chapter books and talking about the story
At CommuniKids this age group comes to us frequently for extra help with literacy skills (Soundswrite Phonics program). Here you really start to see the connections between reading, writing and spoken language.
Age 9-10: The Logic and Reasoning Stage
Nine and ten-year-olds are developing increasingly sophisticated reasoning skills. They can engage in debates, understand cause and effect relationships, and express opinions with supporting evidence.
Key developments include:
Through metaphor and abstract language
Grasping and using humor, such as puns and double entendre jokes
Engaged in complex problem-solving conversations
Must have excellent storytelling or story telling and strong narrative skills
To solve the problems of implied meaning and figures of speech.
Your kid should at this stage partake in class-room discussions, collaborate in group-projects and communicate well on a variety of social encounters. They are also mastering vocabulary development skills that will be in use the entire time they are in school.
Potential concerns:
Difficulty understanding abstract concepts or figurative language. Challenges with social communication in group settings. Persistent issues with complex sentence structures. Problems with reading comprehension that affect spoken language.
Age 11-12: The Pre-Teen Communicators
Eleven and twelve-year-olds are developing adult-like communication skills. They understand complex grammar, can engage in sophisticated discussions, and are beginning to develop their own communication style and voice.
Advanced milestones include:
Using sophisticated vocabulary appropriate to different subjects and contexts
Understanding and using sarcasm, irony, and subtle humour
Engaging in abstract discussions about topics like fairness, friendship, and future goals
Demonstrating strong presentation and public speaking skills
Reading and discussing complex texts with multiple themes
This is also when social communication becomes incredibly important. Pre-teens need to navigate complex friendship dynamics, understand social hierarchies, and communicate appropriately in various social contexts.
When to Seek Professional Support
Sometimes, parents have concerns that they’re being “helicopter parents” when they seek help for communication issues. Let’s dispense with that worry: if you are worried about your child’s speech and language, go with your gut.
Speech delay in school-agers can affect so much more than just talking. It impacts your grades, your social life, and even how you feel about yourself.
A study funded by the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders indicates that developmental language disorder (DLD) can push back kids’ use of words for years during early childhood, torquing the trajectory their language skills will follow as they head to school.
The positive news is that therapy for speech sound problems, when appropriate help is given in the school years, is very likely to be most successful.
Consider professional assessment if your child:
Struggles to be understood by teachers or peers
Has difficulty following classroom instructions
Shows reluctance to participate in group discussions or presentations
Demonstrates ongoing challenges with reading or writing
Has been diagnosed with conditions like autism, ADHD, or learning difficulties
Shows signs of social communication challenges
If you're wondering how to access speech therapy services, our team can guide you through the process and help you understand your options.
At CommuniKidsids, our comprehensive assessments examine speech sounds, language structure and understanding, vocabulary development, and social communication skills.
We work closely with families and schools to create therapy plans that actually make a difference in children's daily lives. Learn more about developing a plan for speech therapy that works for your family.
The CommuniKids Approach to School-Age Support
Jolimont and Victoria Park We have 2 clinics in Perth that focus on helping school-age children develop their communication skills. We know that no two children are the same so this is why our Speech Pathologists develop one to one therapy plans tailored just for your child, focusing on their specific needs and building upon strengths.
Our services include:
Individual speech pathology assessments to determine targeted areas of concern
Articulation therapy for kids with speech sound disorders
Structure of language and comprehension for academic success
Programs for building vocabulary and increasing participation in class
Home/school communication skills training
Developing literacy with programs proven by evidence, such as Soundswrite Phonics
Work on those social skills to interact more effectively with peers
Dyslexia help for reading and spoken language requirements
Additionally, we provide telehealth support so that busy families can access therapy even when on the go. We are an NDIS registered provider and can assist with families who have funding through the National Disability Insurance Scheme.
Supporting Your Child at Home
Professional therapy is fantastic, but there's so much parents can do at home to support their child's communication development. If you're curious about what speech therapy involves and how it can help your child, our blog has detailed information about the process
Daily strategies that work:
Have real conversations during car rides, dinner, or bedtime
Ask open-ended questions that require more than yes/no answers
Read together regularly and discuss the story, characters, and your child's predictions
Play word games, riddles, and storytelling games
Model good communication by listening actively and responding thoughtfully
Encourage your child to explain their thinking and reasoning
Practice presentation skills by having them teach you about their interests
Remember, the goal isn't to constantly correct your child's speech. Instead, focus on celebrating their communication attempts and providing rich language experiences.
Looking Forward: Building Lifelong Communication Skills
The communication abilities your child masters during the school-age years will shape their prosperity in life. Those who communicate well are also more likely to have better relationships and perform better academically as well as feel self-assured in social situations.
If you are worried about your child’s speech or language, don’t wait to get help. Prevention during the school years can prevent smaller difficulties from turning into larger problems.
At CommuniKids Speech Therapy we pride ourselves in supporting children to find their voice in a fun and engaging environment.
Our expert team of certified speech pathologists have an awareness and empathy for the particular difficulties that school age children experience and are ready to help both children and their families navigate this critical developmental process.
Take the Next Step
Is your child hitting the right speech note? Do you have any worries about their speech and language development? The most accurate way to find out is through a professional evaluation by an SLP.
The CommuniKids staff is here to help you and your family. We provide a no obligation initial consultation for you to share your concerns, to explain our assessment procedure and address any queries you may have about encouraging your child’s communication.
Do not let doubt be the killer of your child’s full communication potential. Get in touch with CommuniKids Speech Therapy to find out how we can help you and your school aged child!
Because every child deserves to feel heard, understood and confident in their ability to communicate with the world around them. Your child’s voice is important – let’s help them discover it and use it with assurance.