As parents, one of the most special experiences we have is when a child says their first words. What the child says and when that happens is largely dependent on their individual learning style and how they are exposed to language.
When do first words happen?
As with everything child development related, there is a wide-range of “normal” when it comes to the age at which children say their first words. Many first word indexes and studies depend on parent report of first words.
With that said, some parents will take the first babble of “mamama” to mean that their 6 month old is saying “mama”, while other parents are more guarded in their recording of first words so that if their child is saying “ba” for “bottle”, they may or may not realize that this is in fact a word.
According to the most recent research, 3/4 of children studied said their first words before their first birthday, but it is also not a cause for concern if children do not speak their first words until 15 months.
What counts as a first word?
First words can take many forms. They can be:
- A syllable that sounds like a word (such as “ba” for “bottle” or “ball”) that is used consistently
- A true word that is used consistently to refer to an object or person (“mama” or “dada”)
- Gestures in American Sign Language (ASL) or baby sign (“more”, “all done”)
- A word in another language (if children have both “agua” and “water” this counts as two words!)
- Animal sounds
What are popular first words?
When children say their first words, they are using language primarily to request what they want from the world around them. If we think about a child’s world, this means words like “mama”, “up”, “more” and “milk” will help a 1 year old child navigate their environment.
From this chart, you can see that children are most likely to use:
- Names of toys (ball, car)
- People (mama, dada)
- Animals (may be a word or sound for animal)
- Food and drink (nana, water/wawa)
- Routines (hi, bye)
You can keep track of your child’s first words as they emerge using a First Word Checklist that includes all the most common first words in English.
How can I encourage my child’s first words?
There are many easy techniques that parents can incorporate into their daily routines to help their child learn first words. In order to do this successfully, parents need to be aware of:
- Their child’s motivation: what toys, activities, or games motivate your child or keep them entertained
- Their child’s learning style: by understanding if your child is shy, relaxed, adventurous, or a performer, you are able to choose the appropriate learning technique without wasting time
Techniques for encouraging first words
Modeling
Modeling is the simplest technique to incorporate into daily routines, because you are simply showing your child when and how to use the target word. For example, you know that your child wants milk.
This technique works best for children who are shy or reserved, and who need multiple exposures to words before making an effort to say a new word.
They are showing you all the signs that this is what they want by tugging at your shirt, pointing, and/or grunting. You can hold the milk close to your face and say the word “Milk”.
You can also point out how your lips move together to make the /m/ sound at the beginning of the word.
Offering choices
We can also offer a choice to encourage first words. This is a great technique for parents to begin incorporating into their routines, as it is advantageous for many types of learners, and it is a great way to break the habit of saying “do you want this or this”.
Using the milk example, we can hold out the milk and water, and ask “do you want milk or water?” Your child may not immediately say “milk”, but they will start by pointing to what they want, and soon using the sounds of the desired words.
Adding songs
Some children learn words best by hearing a song or familiar tune. This technique works best for performers, and surprisingly well for shy children, who use the leave-in-the-blank scenario as an opportunity to take a chance.
You can use a song that has the word in it, or you can create your own song, using the tune of another children’s song, such as “twinkle twinkle” or “row your boat”. The result may be something like “milky milk milk, milk milk milk. I want milk now, milky milk” (sung to twinkle twinkle). Eventually, you can begin to leave words out of the song for your child to fill in and VOILA you have first words.
Parallel talk
Parallel talk is great for the more reserved child to learn first words. In parallel talk, the parent will talk through what they see their child doing. For example, they may say “Look at (child’s name) drinking milk! That milk looks so yummy. :Slurping sound effect: More milk!” By providing clear examples of how to use language in daily routines, it encourages your child to use first words, as well.
When should I be concerned?
There is a wide range for when first words occur, but there are certain signs that parents can look for when knowing when to ask for help.
- Little to no babbling by 9 months
- Not pointing to desired objects by 12 months
- No words by 15 months
- Less than 5 words by 18 months
- Adding less than 1 word per week after 18 months
If you are being told to “wait and see”, don’t listen! It is important to find the help and support that you need for your child as soon as you notice that they are not on track to developing first words. In the United States, early intervention services are offered by your county, and are free to all.
Need more support helping your child say their first words? I believe speech therapy should be accessible to everyone. Find out more about The Bilingual BEBE Method, and help your child learn 1 language or 5.
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