hello my son is 2 year 11 months, how much should he be talking at this age, he says and understand a lot of words, speaks few sentences , but if we ask something he repeats the same thing rather than replying with an answer , is this normal, should i be worried, he knows all the basic words, numbers, poems, alphabet, animal name, any advise would be appreciated

A. The speech development of a 3-year-old can vary widely, but there are general milestones to keep in mind. By the age of 3, many children typically have a vocabulary of around 1,000 to 1,200 words. They should also be able to: 1. **Speak in Sentences**: Most 3-year-olds can form sentences with three or more words. These sentences might be simple and not always grammatically correct, but they convey meaning. 2. **Pronunciation**: While pronunciation is still developing, a 3-year-old should be understood by people who are familiar with their speech. They may still struggle with certain sounds or mispronounce words. 3. **Ask Questions**: They should be asking simple questions, such as "Why?" and "What's that?" 4. **Use Pronouns**: They generally start using pronouns like "I," "you," and "me" correctly. 5. **Engage in Conversations**: They can engage in basic conversations, express needs and desires, and share simple stories. 6. **Follow Directions**: A 3-year-old should be able to understand and follow simple, one-step directions. 7. **Use Plurals and Verb Tenses**: They may start using plurals (e.g., "dogs") and verb tenses (e.g., "running"). Keep in mind that speech development is highly individual, and some children may progress at a faster or slower rate. If you have concerns about your child's speech development, it's a good idea to consult with a pediatrician or a speech-language pathologist for a professional evaluation and guidance. Early intervention can be very effective if there are speech or language delays.