You were so happy when Baby<\/span> spoke their<\/span> first words, and you were even happier when they started<\/span> to learn more. They isn\u2019t<\/span> prepping for their<\/span> college exams yet, but knowing more words could help them<\/span> out in school as early as kindergarten. More than that, though, the more Baby<\/span> knows how to say, the more they will<\/span> be able to say to you! Your child\u2019s vocabulary is going to expand rapidly in the coming months and years. According to the National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families, at about 12 months, Baby<\/span> probably has one or two simple words under their<\/span> belt, like mama or dada. By 18 months, their<\/span> vocabulary will take off, usually to about 20 to 50 words. By age 2, they might<\/span> be putting words together to make their<\/span> first sentences, and they will<\/span> know between 20 and 200 words. How can you give Baby<\/span> a helping hand?<\/p>\n Obviously, you talk to Baby<\/span> all the time, but for expanding their<\/span> vocabulary, it can help to take some time every day to be really intentional about the words you\u2019re using. Sometimes this just means talking at <\/em>your child, but they will<\/span> probably still process any new words they hears<\/span>, especially if you avoid baby talk. Talk about your day, tell them<\/span> stories, and describe what you\u2019re doing while you\u2019re doing it.<\/p>\n Children\u2019s vocabulary in preschool correlates with reading comprehension in upper elementary school, so reading and vocab will be closely tied throughout Baby<\/span>\u2019s life. Look for books that ask questions and have interactive elements so that Baby<\/span> can find and name things in the book. Ask questions while you read, and name the pictures in the books.<\/p>\n This is a learning process for you and Baby<\/span>, so remember to be supportive as you learn together. Don\u2019t correct them<\/span> when they makes<\/span> mistakes, just repeat the correct pronunciation, and translate for others if they can\u2019t understand what they is<\/span> saying. If Baby<\/span> says \u201cguck\u201d for \u201ctruck,\u201d say, \u201cYes, you do have a truck; I love that it\u2019s red!\u201d You two will be chatting it up in no time.<\/p>\n {{ PRONOUN_BABY }}’s vocabulary may not be winning {{ PRONOUN_HIM_HER_LOWER }} any spelling bees any time soon, but with your help, the thesaurus of words that {{ PRONOUN_HE_SHE_LOWER }} knows is growing every day!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":235617,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ovia_author_name":"","ovia_author_prefix":"","ovia_author_image":"","ovia_content_type_id":"177","ovia_product_mode":"13","ovia_days_from_signup":"","ovia_days_from_lmp":"","ovia_days_from_baby_birth":"529","ovia_days_from_enroll":"","ovia_health_module_days_from":"","ovia_article_for_email_days_from":"529","ovia_health_module":"","ovia_legacy_id2":"","ovia_ttc":"","ovia_article_subtype":"","ovia_health_symptom":"","ovia_partner_id":"","ovia_partner_custom_group":"","ovia_legacy_category":"11","ovia_legacy_category2":"240","ovia_content_url_id":"101114","ovia_include_share_buttons":"","ovia_fertility_goal":"","ovia_secondary_module":"","ovia_trimester":"","ovia_child_age":"","ovia_share_image":"","ovia_more_menu_image":"","ovia_button1_url":"","ovia_days_from_postpartum":"","footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"fert-category":[],"preg-category":[],"parent-category":[112,115],"fert-tag":[],"preg-tag":[],"parent-tag":[428],"class_list":["post-101114","article","type-article","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","parent-category-babys-development-and-growth","parent-category-language-and-communication-development","parent-tag-speech-development"],"yoast_head":"\n
\n <\/p>\nTalk to them<\/span>
\n<\/strong><\/h4>\nAsk open-ended questions<\/strong> <\/h4>\n
Verbalize your observations<\/strong> <\/h4>\n
Use many, several, varied words<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Read a book!<\/strong> <\/h4>\n
\nSources
\n<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n