When do children typically start combining words into simple sentences?

Children typically start combining words into simple sentences around the age of two. This developmental milestone is a significant part of language acquisition, as children begin to use two or more words together to express ideas, ask questions, or make statements. This stage reflects an important cognitive leap where children understand not just individual words but also how they can be combined to convey meaning.

At age two, children often demonstrate an emerging ability to form basic phrases such as "want cookie" or "big truck," moving beyond single-word utterances to more complex communication. This early sentence structure lays the foundation for more sophisticated language skills that will develop as they continue to grow.

The ages before two typically involve single-word speech, where children may utter names of people or objects but do not yet combine them meaningfully. As they progress beyond two years of age, their vocabulary expands, and they begin constructing longer and more grammatically complex sentences, but the two-word combinations mark the initial crucial step in this journey of language development.