Many parents wonder how many words their 2-year-old should know. While there's a wide range in the number of words toddlers use and when they acquire them, it's typically believed that children should be using at least 50 words by age 2. But that doesn't mean kids have mastered all of those words—in fact, the mastery list is smaller, closer to 25 words.
By age 2, many toddlers are chatting up a storm from the moment they wake until bedtime. Gabbing, squealing, singing, questioning, trying out new words, and even screaming are all normal 2-year-old behaviors. However, language develops at a different pace for each child. It's also completely normal for some toddlers to simply talk more than others.
One linguistics study, led by Leslie Rescorla, Ph.D., a former professor and clinician at Bryn Mawr College's Department of Psychology, in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, compiled the 25 most common words that toddlers master. Read on to learn the 25 words that most toddlers should know and what to do if your toddler isn't talking yet.
You can begin to track your child's language development by listening for these 25 words a 2-year-old should know:
Mommy
Daddy
Baby
Milk
Juice
Hello
Bye-bye
Yes
No
Dog
Cat
Ball
Nose
Eye
Banana
Cookie
Car
Hot
Thank you
Bath
Shoe
Hat
Book
More
All gone
What's especially noteworthy about the words in this list is that they are basic words—and ones that toddlers use conversationally as they interact with their world. Simply talking to your child (or having them listen to you talk) can help build their vocabulary.
Though these words are among the most common for toddlers, some parents will find that their child doesn't use all the words on this list, and that's okay. If your child isn't using a word on this list, consider whether the reason is simply a lack of familiarity.
After all, a toddler who has never had a cookie and has never encountered one in everyday life is unlikely to make learning and using that word a priority. That said, if your 2-year-old isn't routinely using most or all of these 25 words, it's a good idea to talk to a pediatrician or health care provider.
Things to Keep in Mind About Your 2-Year-Old's Speech Development
It's important to stress that if your 2-year-old isn't using all these words yet, they may very well start using them soon. Talking early or late doesn't necessarily mean your child has a developmental delay. However, research does show that toddlers who pick up new words ahead of or within the typical timeframe are more likely to have improved literacy and vocabulary later on.
It's recommended to seek out an evaluation from a health care provider or school system if you notice any delays. In many cases, your child might still be on track. They just may be coming to talking a little later than average. But if they do have a language delay, the earlier it's diagnosed and treated, the lesser the impact it's likely to have.
There could be many reasons why your 2-year-old's spoken language isn't developing at the typical rate. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), around 1 in 5 children have language delays. Early intervention is very helpful for kids with developmental delays.
Some reasons for a language delay include a hearing problem, an issue with the mechanics of speaking, or early signs of an underlying learning disorder or autism spectrum disorder. Or it may turn out that those words will come naturally with time.
However, this is the appropriate age to start screening and evaluating, so that if there is a detectable problem, an appropriate intervention can be discussed and implemented. And the earlier an intervention starts, the more effective it will be. Be sure to discuss any concerns with a pediatrician or health care provider.
While a non-gifted child may have a vocabulary of 150 to 300 words at age 2, gifted children may have surpassed the 100-word mark by the time they are 18 months old. At 18 months, most children have a vocabulary of from 5 to 20 words, although some do reach the 50-word milestone by the time they are 2 years old.
Follow simple commands and understand simple questions. Speak about 50 to 100 words. Be understood at least half the time by adults who don't know the child.
Most children at age two are experimenting with onomatopoeia (aka using words that describe noises, like “beep beep!”) and starting to ask questions (“Where's Dada?”), but verbally advanced kids might already be speaking in longer sentences with many verbs, such as, “I played and I jumped and I sang!” says Fujimoto.
Though every child is different, most toddlers will be able to count to 10 by the time they are two-years-old. At this point in time they are probably repeating them mostly by memory and have yet to understand what they actually mean. This concept is known as “rote” counting.
At age 2, most kids say at least 2 words together. By 30 months, they are saying 50 words or more and are understood about half of the time. They are using words like “I,” “me,” or “we.” By 30 months, most kids can follow 2-step instructions, like "Pick up the ball and bring it to Daddy."
an extreme need for constant mental stimulation. an ability to learn and process complex information rapidly. a need to explore subjects in surprising depth. an insatiable curiosity, as demonstrated by endless questions and inquiries.
A 2 year old not talking is a reason to seek advice from a speech pathologist or a health professional. There is a lot of variation and reason for delayed toddler talking, however, if they are saying NO words at 2, it is a definite red flag for them being at risk of development and learning delays.
At around 2 years, your toddler will start to put 2-3 words together – for example, 'red apple' or 'I go up'. By 3 years, they'll be able to use sentences with 3 or more words – for example, 'Mummy get in car' or 'Me go too'. You'll start to hear grammar and more structured sentences.
Independently: If your little one says a word on their own without hearing you say it first, then it counts as a word. If they repeat a word you've said, it doesn't count as a word just yet. Intentionally: It counts as a word if your child says a word for a specific reason.
Around age 2: Kids start recognizing some letters and can sing or say aloud the “ABC” song. Around age 3: Kids may recognize about half the letters in the alphabet and start to connect letters to their sounds. (Like s makes the /s/ sound.)
Between the ages of 2 to 3 years old, children begin to learn the names of colors. It's necessary to remember that every child develops at their own pace, and some may only be able to name colors once they are closer to 4 years old. Signs of progress include correctly naming at least three colors.
The two most commonly given IQ tests are the Stanford-Binet (SB5) and the Weschler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence-III (WPPSI). The Stanford-Binet can be administered to children aged two and up, and the WPPSI can be given to children ages two through seven.
Here's how and when kids typically learn their ABCs: Around age 2: Kids start recognizing some letters and can sing or say aloud the “ABC” song. Around age 3: Kids may recognize about half the letters in the alphabet and start to connect letters to their sounds.
Introduction: My name is Errol Quitzon, I am a fair, cute, fancy, clean, attractive, sparkling, kind person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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