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Q&A: Early Literacy
Expert: Jan Greenberg
Question 1:
Is there a comprehensive list of words that infants typically say? I would like a list to hang on my refrigerator so that I can check them off when she says them and then I will know when my doctor asks how many she is saying? I have heard of this but have searched the internet and come up with nothing.
Response to Question 1:
During the first months and years of life, children are veritable sponges when it comes to picking up new words and language. They coo, babble, and make sounds that imitate what they hear from their families and home cultures. Cooing, babbling and imitation turn into real words, phrases, and full sentences. While every child has his/her unique timetable for developing language skills, and every child’s home, community, and educational experiences are different, there are some common categories of words that young children tend to learn first.
- Names of important people, e.g.,“momma,” “dada,” “poppa,” and “mami.” This can often happen with amusing results! I’m told that my first word was “habm.” No one knew what I was saying, except that I would say that word any time my mother’s younger brother was around. His name is Arthur, and apparently “habm” was my way of saying his name!
- Common objects (e.g., bottle, ball), food, and animal names
- Greetings, e.g., “hi,” “bye-bye”
- Commands, e.g., “no,” “more”
There is no comprehensive list of words that infants/toddlers typically say. However, if you’re interested in keeping track of your child’s vocabulary, start your own list! Write down the words she already knows, and keep adding new words when you hear them. And remember, young children often understand more words than they know how to say! You can help your child learn new words by reading books to her, describing what she or others are doing, singing songs and nursery rhymes, and giving her plenty of opportunities to participate in conversations with you.
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