From the Guidelines
Most children begin saying their first words around 12 months of age, though this can normally range from 9 to 15 months. By 18 months, children typically have a vocabulary of about 5-20 words, and by age 2, most children can use 50 or more words and start combining them into simple phrases 1. Parents should encourage language development by talking to their baby frequently, reading books together, and responding to their attempts at communication.
Key Language Development Milestones
- By 12 months: first words
- By 18 months: vocabulary of about 5-20 words
- By age 2: using 50 or more words and combining them into simple phrases If a child isn't using any words by 15-18 months or shows a significant delay in language development compared to peers, it's advisable to consult with a pediatrician 1. These milestones reflect typical development patterns, but it's essential to remember that each child develops at their own pace. Language development depends on many factors, including hearing ability, exposure to language, and individual neurological development. Regular interaction and verbal stimulation are key to supporting a child's emerging communication skills.
Factors Influencing Language Development
- Hearing ability
- Exposure to language
- Individual neurological development It's crucial for parents and caregivers to be aware of these factors and to seek professional advice if they have concerns about a child's language development.
From the Research
Age of First Words
- Infants usually say their first word at the age of 12 months 2, 3
- Within the next 6-12 months, they develop a vocabulary of approximately 50 words, along with the ability to make two-word combinations 2
Vocabulary Development
- Children's word learning principles emerge and develop, and the character of word learning changes over the course of the 2nd year of life 3
- Vocabulary size can be measured using parent reports, such as the MacArthur-Bates Communicative Development Inventories: Words and Sentences 4
- Children with repaired cleft palate showed slower expressive vocabulary growth relative to their age-matched typically developing peers 4
Cross-Linguistic Differences
- Substantive cross-linguistic differences appear in the relative prevalence of common nouns, people terms, and verbs as well as in the probability that children produced even one of these word types 5
- Parental input and cross-linguistic/cross-cultural variations play a role in children's early word-learning 5