What developmental milestone is typically marked by the ability to form 2-word sentences?

The ability to form 2-word sentences is typically associated with children around the age of 2 years. At this stage, children start to demonstrate significant advancements in language development. By the age of 24 months, most children can combine two words in a meaningful way to express simple ideas, such as "want cookie" or "go outside." This type of speech indicates not only an increase in vocabulary but also an understanding of syntax and basic grammar, which are essential components of language development.

As children approach this milestone, they are moving away from simple babbling or one-word utterances to more complex structures that allow for the expression of more nuanced thoughts and requests. This linguistic leap is crucial in their overall communication skills and marks an important phase in their social interaction and cognitive development.

While some children may achieve this milestone slightly earlier or later, the general consensus in developmental psychology identifies 2 years as the typical age for the emergence of 2-word sentences.