Memory Game Language DevelopmentOnline version Learn about How Do Children Learn Language? by Shirley Michelle Niquinga Toapanta Language Development Stage 1: Learning Sounds Infants can distinguish between language sounds and other noise. At this point, children are able to attach meanings to words. Language Development Stage 3: Learning Sentences Language Development Stage 3: Learning Sentences Babies learn which phonemes belong to the language they are learning and which don’t. Children continue to expand their vocabulary and develop more complex language. Language Development Stage 1: Learning Sounds Language Development Stage 2: Learning Words. Children are not learning words, exactly. They are actually learning morphemes,which are the smallest, discrete chunks words can be broken into. They can put words in the correct order. Language Development Stage 2: Learning Words.