Describing words tell you more about a thing, like its size, colour or feel: big, red, soft. In the ideas below, you add a describing word to what your child says.
They fit into play, jobs around the house and trips out. You can use the same ideas in any language.
Describing words
When children learn this
- As children learn more words, they add describing words, like big and fluffy.
- At about 2, many children use only a few describing words.
- Between 4 and 5, many children are still learning new describing words.
- Children learn language skills at different ages.
Try this
While you play
Play with playdough. Your child rolls a long, thin snake.
- Your child: Snake!
- You: A long snake. A long, thin snake.
Around the house
Fold the washing together. Your child holds a towel up to their face.
- Your child: Towel.
- You: A soft towel. The towel feels soft on your face.
When you go out
On a walk, pick up dry brown leaves from the ground.
- Your child: Leaf!
- You: A brown leaf. A dry, crunchy leaf.
Why it helps
- When you add a describing word to what your child says, your child hears a new word about the thing they are looking at. Your child does not have to copy you.
When to get help
- Tell the speech pathologist or your GP if your child is 18 months or older and has no clear words, does not point, wave or use other gestures, or does not follow simple instructions.
- Tell the speech pathologist or your GP if your child is between 3 and 4 and uses only one or two words at a time.
- Tell the speech pathologist or your GP if your child is 5 or older and has trouble telling a simple story or what happened, has trouble understanding what they hear or what is read to them, or has a lot of trouble following or remembering spoken instructions.
More help
Sources
- nsw.gov.au: childrens language
- raisingchildren.net.au: language 1 2 years
- raisingchildren.net.au: language 4 5 years
- childrens.health.qld.gov.au: red flags
- journals.plos.org: CATALISE study (Bishop and others, 2016)
- cahs.health.wa.gov.au: If you have a concern
- health.nsw.gov.au: learn the signs
- raisingchildren.net.au: language 2 3 years
- childrens.health.qld.gov.au: Child development milestones, 0 to 18 months
- raisingchildren.net.au: language delay
- rch.org.au: Glue ear
- nsw.gov.au: stuttering
- childrens.health.qld.gov.au: swallowing difficulty dysphagia
- nsw.gov.au: paediatric feeding
- nsw.gov.au: childrens speech
- nsw.gov.au: multilingual resources
© State of New South Wales. For current information go to www.nsw.gov.au. CC BY 4.0.
Sources, last checked 12 October 2026: https://www.earlybloom.com.au/resources/guides/speech/describing-words. © State of New South Wales. For current information go to www.nsw.gov.au. CC BY 4.0. General information, not medical advice.
Last checked 12 October 2026