At 14 months old, most children will have a spoken vocabulary of around three words. Mama and dada are usually two of those, and the other will probably be another short, simple word like ball, or car.
However, your child probably already understands a lot more than he or she can say, and new words are being added to her vocabulary every day. It’s only a matter of time before your toddler starts practising those words.
When a toddler does learn to say a new word, it’s likely that he or she will look for any opportunity to say that word. They will point to pictures in books and magazines, or to the television. They will look for, and point out, objects in real life too.
This kind of repetition is crucial in language development, and you can help your child by playing games and singing songs that allow for repetition.
Most nursery rhymes are repetitive, and if you make a point of singing them with your 14 month old, before long he or she will be singing along with you. You could also buy books that have pictures that you can name for your child, and allow him or her to try out the new words. Make sure that you give your child plenty of praise when he or she tries a new word – even if it’s not completely correct in pronunciation. By praising your child’s efforts, you will encourage more repetition, and that means more learning.
However, your child probably already understands a lot more than he or she can say, and new words are being added to her vocabulary every day. It’s only a matter of time before your toddler starts practising those words.
When a toddler does learn to say a new word, it’s likely that he or she will look for any opportunity to say that word. They will point to pictures in books and magazines, or to the television. They will look for, and point out, objects in real life too.
This kind of repetition is crucial in language development, and you can help your child by playing games and singing songs that allow for repetition.
Most nursery rhymes are repetitive, and if you make a point of singing them with your 14 month old, before long he or she will be singing along with you. You could also buy books that have pictures that you can name for your child, and allow him or her to try out the new words. Make sure that you give your child plenty of praise when he or she tries a new word – even if it’s not completely correct in pronunciation. By praising your child’s efforts, you will encourage more repetition, and that means more learning.
