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Written Communication Development Chart

Written Communication includes handwriting, typing, spelling, grammar, and story planning.

Note: Each stage builds on the one before.
How to use this chart: Review the child’s current and previous skills. If earlier ones are missing, contact us.

Age

Developmental Milestones

Potential impacts of missed milestones

0 - 12 months

  • ⦿ No specific milestones
  • ⦿ No specific milestones

1 - 2 years

  • ⦿ Pretends read when others are reading
  • ⦿ Interest in books may not yet be developed

2 - 3 years

  • ⦿ Distinguishes print from pictures
    ⦿ May imitate reading behavior of others
  • ⦿ Interest in books may still be limited

3 - 4 years

  • ⦿ Begins forming basic shapes (−, |, O)
    ⦿ Numbers 1–5 start to be recognized
    ⦿ Begins to recognize and name letters
    ⦿ Typically identifies 10 letters, often from own name
    ⦿ Becomes aware that print is read
    ⦿ May recognize their own name in print
    ⦿ Environmental print (e.g. 'stop' sign) may be recognized
    ⦿ Understands books are read from front to back
    ⦿ Learns that print moves from left to right
  • ⦿ May experience difficulty counting and recognizing numbers
    ⦿ May have challenges learning to write their name

4 - 5 years

  • ⦿ Mastery of pre-writing shapes (−, |, O, +, /, square, , X, triangle)
    ⦿ Able to write own name
    ⦿ Recognizes and identifies at least 10 letters
    ⦿ Can write and recognize numbers 1–5
    ⦿ Sings the alphabet song
    ⦿ Develops awareness that letters represent sounds (grapheme-phoneme)
    ⦿ Understands that print represents spoken language
    ⦿ Begins identifying word boundaries in text
    ⦿ Name in print is recognized
    ⦿ Familiar signs and labels may be read (e.g. 'stop')
    ⦿ Understands directional reading (left to right, front to back)
  • ⦿ May struggle to differentiate between letter names and sounds
    ⦿ May have difficulty identifying and reading printed words correctly

5 - 6 years

  • ⦿ Understands that words are made up of sounds (alphabetic principle)
    ⦿ Learns all consonant letter names and sounds
    ⦿ Numbers are fully recognized
    ⦿ Learns vowel sounds
    ⦿ Matches letters to corresponding sounds
    ⦿ Begins decoding words by sounding out letters and blending sounds
    ⦿ Starts recognizing some words by sight
    ⦿ Tracks print while listening to familiar stories
    ⦿ May read simple, regularly spelled words (e.g. names)
    ⦿ Writes basic, recognizable words
    ⦿ Begins forming sentences
    ⦿ Writes regular words by using letter-sound knowledge
  • ⦿ May find it challenging to sound out words accurately or spell correctly
    ⦿ Sight word reading and spelling may be problematic
    ⦿ May struggle with tracking print while reading

6 - 7 years

  • ⦿ Begins using punctuation and capitalization correctly
    ⦿ Writes complete sentences with proper punctuation
    ⦿ Alternative spellings begin to appear in writing
  • ⦿ Sounding out and spelling words may remain difficult
    ⦿ Sight word reading and spelling may still pose challenges
    ⦿ Word tracking during reading may still be inconsistent
    ⦿ Usage of print conventions may not yet be consistent

7 - 8 years

  • ⦿ Uses punctuation, capitalization, and other conventions appropriately
    ⦿ Writes two or more sentences using correct grammar and punctuation
    ⦿ Moves from emergent to fluent reading
    ⦿ Sight word vocabulary continues to expand
    ⦿ Phonic patterns (e.g. silent 'e') are increasingly recognized
    ⦿ Reading becomes more fluent, with attention shifting to comprehension
    ⦿ Reading speed and accuracy increase
  • ⦿ Print conventions may still be inconsistently applied
    ⦿ Spelling and writing may be difficult for unfamiliar readers to interpret
    ⦿ Reading fluency may still be underdeveloped

This chart provides a functional screening of age-based developmental skills, not a formal assessment. It combines decades of multi-source data, clinical experience, and educator input from South Australian schools, adapted to align with practical ACARA curriculum requirements beyond standardized research.

Reference List Entry:
Kid Sense Child Development. (n.d.). Child development charts.

Content adapted and inspired by developmental milestone charts from Kid Sense Child Development (https://childdevelopment.com.au/). Credit to Kid Sense for foundational insights used in creating materials for Aliana Pediatric Therapy.

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