Conversation turns: how the skill grows from 12 to 36 months
Conversation turns means taking turns in talk: you say something, your child responds, you respond again. Back-and-forth, with or without words, sits at the heart of responsive caregiving. Keeping a conversation going for at least two back-and-forth exchanges is a CDC 36-month milestone. Turn-taking starts much earlier, with babble, gestures and sounds traded back and forth.
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Conversation turns: the ladder, step by step
Pick the step that looks most like your child today. The next step and activities that practise it appear below.
No step picked yet. There is no wrong answer: pick the closest one.
Next step: Gesture and word turns. Answers your question with a point or a word.
Activities that fit this step
- Sock Puppet Hello · 12–20 months · 3–8 min
- Ready-Set-Go Car Ramp · 16–26 months · 5–10 min
- Finish-the-Song Pause · 18–30 months · 3–8 min
Next step: One exchange. Answers "Where's the cat?" with "There!"
Activities that fit this step
- Ready-Set-Go Car Ramp · 16–26 months · 5–10 min
- Finish-the-Song Pause · 18–30 months · 3–8 min
- Dough Pancake Café · 21–32 months · 8–15 min
Next step: Two exchanges. Responds, listens to you, then adds something more.
Activities that fit this step
- Family Photo Action Talk · 24–34 months · 5–10 min
- Mystery Tote Bag Guess · 26–36 months · 5–10 min
- Paper-Page Picture Book Turns · 26–36 months · 5–10 min
Next step: Starts the talk. Comes to you with news and keeps the conversation going.
Activities that fit this step
- Paper-Page Picture Book Turns · 26–36 months · 5–10 min
- Knock-Knock Box House · 27–36 months · 5–15 min
- Bedtime Day Recap · 28–36 months · 3–8 min
Top of the ladder (starts the talk). Keep it flexible: offer it in a new place, with a different person or with new materials.
Activities that fit this step
- Knock-Knock Box House · 27–36 months · 5–15 min
- Bedtime Day Recap · 28–36 months · 3–8 min
- Toy Car Trip Story · 30–36 months · 10–20 min
The conversation turns ladder
5 steps from the first sign to a flexible skill, covered here from 12 to 36 months. Children move at their own pace: use the steps to see what comes next, not as deadlines.
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Sound turns
Babbles back when you talk and then pause.
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Gesture and word turns
Answers your question with a point or a word.
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One exchange
Answers "Where's the cat?" with "There!"
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Two exchanges
Responds, listens to you, then adds something more.
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Starts the talk
Comes to you with news and keeps the conversation going.
When conversation turns usually shows up
This page follows conversation turns from 12 to 36 months, a window that spans the 12-month, 15-month, 18-month, 24-month, 30-month and 36-month CDC checklists.
In the library, 10 activities practise conversation turns (3 as their main skill), for ages 12 to 36 months. 4 of them need no prep and take 10 minutes or less. By age, they sit closest to steps 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 of the 5-step ladder.
Related items appear on the CDC checklists for 36 months.
Related milestones
CDC checklist items (paraphrased) that involve conversation turns. Checklists are for monitoring, not a test.
| Checklist | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 36 months | Keeps a conversation with you going for at least two back-and-forth exchanges. |
Activities that practise conversation turns
Placed on the closest ladder step by age. By primary domain: 8 language, 1 creativity & pretend and 1 fine motor. Quickest to start: Bedtime Day Recap (3–8 minutes).
Step 1: Sound turns
Step 2: Gesture and word turns
Step 3: One exchange
Step 4: Two exchanges
Step 5: Starts the talk
Skills practised alongside
The activities for conversation turns most often also work on asking questions (4), first words (3), naming things (3), pretend sequences (2) and two-word phrases (2). Pairing them keeps practice playful: one activity, several skills.
Practise it inside everyday routines
- Follow your child's lead and talk about what they are looking at.
- Pause longer than feels natural; count to five in your head.
- Make comments more often than questions.
- Use mealtimes and stroller walks for chatting.
What to avoid
- Background TV during play and meals; it crowds out talking time.
When to mention it to the pediatrician
If by 3 your child does not have short back-and-forth conversations, or talks but rarely responds to what you say, raise it with the pediatrician.
Worried about conversation turns between visits? Call the pediatrician; CDC's free resources also explain how to contact your local Early Intervention program directly. Milestones are for monitoring, not diagnosis.
Frequently asked questions
When do toddlers start conversation turns?
Keeping a conversation going for at least two back-and-forth exchanges is a CDC 36-month milestone. Turn-taking starts much earlier, with babble, gestures and sounds traded back and forth. The first step to look for: babbles back when you talk and then pause.
How can I help my toddler with conversation turns?
Follow your child's lead and talk about what they are looking at. Pause longer than feels natural; count to five in your head. A good first activity is Sock Puppet Hello (12–20 months).
What should I avoid when practising conversation turns?
Background TV during play and meals; it crowds out talking time.
When should I mention conversation turns to the pediatrician?
If by 3 your child does not have short back-and-forth conversations, or talks but rarely responds to what you say, raise it with the pediatrician. You can also contact Early Intervention yourself.
Related
Monitoring, not medical advice. Talk to your pediatrician about any concern. Our sources and method.