The first five years of a child’s life are full of incredible change. In what feels like the blink of an eye, your baby starts to smile, babble, walk, talk—and develop the skills they’ll use for a lifetime. This is more than just a busy season for parents—it’s a window of remarkable growth for a child’s brain. That’s why early intervention matters.
When a child is born, their brain isn’t fully wired. It builds and strengthens connections through experience—hearing a lullaby, feeling a hug, tasting a new food, watching your face. These early moments form the foundation for communication, motor development, emotional regulation, and learning. And when there are delays or difficulties in any of those areas, early support can make all the difference.
Early intervention refers to services and support for children from birth to age five who may be developing more slowly or differently than expected. It can include speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, or other types of developmental support—tailored to each child’s needs. But even outside of formal treatment, there are ways caregivers can foster healthy development in the home, starting from day one.
Let’s explore why these early years are so impactful, what to watch for, and what you can do to support your child’s communication growth—whether they’re in therapy or not.
Why Birth to Five Is a Big Deal
At birth, the brain is incredibly adaptable. Each new experience helps form neural pathways, and those that are used often become stronger. Those that aren’t? They may fade away over time. That’s why repetition—like singing the same song, reading the same book, or naming the same object—is so beneficial in early childhood.
In children with developmental delays, the brain’s “wiring” may organize in ways that make some skills harder. But because the brain is still developing, this is also the best time to help it reorganize. Early intervention takes advantage of this flexibility. Waiting too long can mean missing that optimal window when change comes more easily.
This doesn’t mean you need to be doing everything at once. It means that the earlier you notice something and ask questions or seek support, the more opportunities your child has to thrive.
Who Benefits from Early Support?
While all children benefit from a language-rich, engaged environment, some may need more intentional help. Early intervention is especially valuable for:
Children born prematurely. Babies born early often have underdeveloped sensory systems and may need support integrating the sights, sounds, and feelings of their environment in ways that support communication and regulation.
Children showing signs of autism. One of the earliest flags can be differences in joint attention—sharing focus on a toy or a face. Other signs may include reduced eye contact, limited gestures, or delayed language.
Children with limited expressive language. If a child isn’t meeting expected speech and language milestones, early support can help them catch up or compensate in other ways while language develops.
Children with childhood apraxia of speech. This motor planning disorder affects how the brain sends messages to the muscles involved in speech. Kids may be bright and social but still struggle to produce clear words or sounds.
Children with frequent ear infections. Repeated fluid buildup can distort how speech sounds are heard, affecting the ability to imitate or learn language accurately. Even temporary hearing loss can impact development during these key years.
Each of these situations benefits from early attention—not necessarily because something is “wrong,” but because the earlier we notice patterns, the more time we have to support and strengthen new ones.
Milestones to Watch For
Every child grows on their own timeline, but there are general patterns that can help parents and caregivers track progress. These aren’t rigid checklists—they’re signposts to help guide your awareness.
By 12 months:
- Your child should have at least one meaningful word. It may not sound perfect, but it should be used consistently to refer to something.
- Joint attention begins to develop—your child shares focus with you on an object, person, or activity. This might look like pausing to look up at you and smile during a feeding.
By 24 months:
- Linaya Ming, MS, CCC-SLP, and Speech Therapy department lead at Red Door, suggests that we want to see about 50 words in a child’s vocabulary by two years of age.
- Words may be labels at first (“ball,” “milk”), but variety is important too. Action words like “go” or “eat,” descriptive words like “hot” or “big,” and early concepts like colors or shapes may start emerging.
Once your child reaches that 50-word benchmark, they’re often ready to start combining words into two-word phrases—”more juice,” “daddy go,” or “big truck.”
By 36 months:
- Three-word phrases are common.
- Speech may still be unclear to unfamiliar listeners, but familiar adults can usually understand most of what the child is saying.
- They begin to follow multi-step directions and ask simple questions.
By 48–60 months:
- Your child should be speaking in full, grammatically correct sentences most of the time.
- They should be understood by unfamiliar listeners nearly all the time.
- They can tell stories, ask and answer questions, and express complex thoughts, feelings, or ideas.
If your child isn’t meeting these milestones, or if you’re just not sure, early intervention screenings can offer clarity, guidance, and peace of mind.
How Ear Infections Impact Language
Many young children experience ear infections; for some, they happen so often that hearing becomes compromised. Even when the infection resolves, residual fluid in the middle ear can dull hearing for weeks or longer.
Linaya uses a simple but powerful analogy: having fluid in your ears is like trying to listen underwater. Sounds become distorted. Words are harder to pick out. And when this happens during the critical period of language learning, it can lead to gaps in vocabulary, missed sounds, or unclear speech.
Some children tolerate the discomfort well, making chronic fluid hard to detect. If you suspect your child may not be hearing well—or if they’ve had recurring infections—it’s worth discussing with your pediatrician. A referral to an ENT (Ear, Nose, and Throat doctor) can help determine if your child may benefit from ear tubes, which keep fluid from building up and support more accurate hearing.
Building a Language-Rich Environment at Home
Whether or not your child is in therapy, you are their first and most important teacher. And the good news is, you don’t need a curriculum to help them grow—you just need intention.
Here are a few simple, research-backed strategies that turn everyday moments into powerful opportunities for language development:
Self-Talk
Narrate what you’re doing as you do it. “Up, up, up the stairs!” or “We’re washing hands—wash, wash, wash.” It sounds simple because it is—but it helps children link words to actions and routines.
Repetition Through Books and Songs
Young children thrive on repetition. Don’t worry if your toddler wants to read the same book or sing the same song for the fiftieth time. That’s how patterns get reinforced. You can even start leaving off the last word in a familiar phrase—”Brown Bear, Brown Bear, what do you…”—and let your child fill it in.
Verbal Routines
Predictable word sequences like “Ready, set… GO!” are fun, social, and help kids anticipate language. These routines can become playful rituals that support turn-taking and attention.
The “Plus One” Strategy
This is a favorite among speech therapists. When your child says one word, repeat it back with one more. If they say “truck,” you say “big truck.” If they say “go,” you say “go fast.” This models slightly more complex language without pressure.
Comment More Than You Question
Instead of quizzing your child (“What’s that? What color is it?”), offer descriptive comments. “That’s a bumpy green pickle!” or “You stacked all the red blocks on top.” This helps reduce performance pressure and builds understanding through natural interaction.
Embed Language Into Routines
Bath time, mealtime, and getting dressed are perfect chances to embed language. You’re already doing the tasks—now just add words. “Pajamas on! One arm, two arms!” or “Soap on your belly… tickle tickle!”
These strategies aren’t about doing more—they’re about doing what you’re already doing with a bit more focus and playfulness. They make your home a language-rich place that encourages communication growth in a natural, connected way.
Take the Opportunity While It’s Here
These early years go fast. But they also offer an incredible opportunity to shape how a child sees, hears, interacts with, and expresses themselves in the world. Early intervention doesn’t mean rushing to find a diagnosis—it means paying attention, being curious, and giving your child the support they need when they need it most.
Sometimes, that means therapy. Sometimes, it means making small changes at home. Sometimes, it just means learning what’s typical so you can feel confident. But no matter what, you don’t have to “wait and see.” You can act with clarity and care right now.
Red Door is here to partner with you—whether you’re full of questions or just want to make the most of this special season.