What is an expected behavior of a child with normal development regarding weak syllable deletion?

A child with normal development is expected to completely suppress weak syllable deletion by the age of 3. Weak syllable deletion is a common phonological process in which an unstressed syllable in a multisyllabic word is omitted. This process typically occurs as children are learning to articulate and refine their speech sounds.

By the age of 3, most children have developed enough phonological awareness and motor control to produce multisyllabic words accurately and consistently, leading to the suppression of such phonological processes. This milestone indicates a child's speech development is progressing normally, and they are starting to master the more complex aspects of language.

Intermittent use of weak syllable deletion or its occurrence past age 3 would suggest delayed or atypical speech development, which may necessitate further assessment or intervention. Additionally, using this process when tired or distracted is not expected as a normative developmental behavior, as children typically demonstrate stable phonological skills during those times as well.