How many words should my child be using?

Another one of those milestones which parents have to keep track of.. there are loads!

So, I have made an easy visual to help you along your way. Feel free to get in touch and I can send you a copy!

An important note which I feel I must bring up – we count lots of things as words! Here are a few examples which you may have not initially ‘counted’ as words:

  • SOUND EFFECTS: During play, does your child meaningfully and consistently use language like “beep beep”? Well, this counts as a word!
  • ANIMAL SOUNDS: “oink”, “moo”… the list goes on
  • APPROXIMATIONS: Your child might say ‘ba’ for ball

Key point for counting a word in your child’s vocabulary, is that they use it CONSISTENTLY and MEANINGFULLY.

If you have any concerns regarding your child’s expressive language development, please touch base!

Written by Emily Baxter

Blossom Rural Director & Speech Pathologist (B.SP, CPSP)

"As a Speech Pathologist, I love working with rural families on their child’s literacy, speech and language skills. I opened Blossom Rural in January 2021 after noticing the lack of Speech Pathology services in my local Far Western NSW region. The number of rural children, living on properties and remote towns, who were not able to access regular Speech Pathology intervention without driving to a major capital city, was astounding. These were the families I had always hoped to work alongside and provide an accessible service to. I grew up in Broken Hill before heading to Adelaide for Boarding School at 12 years of age followed by university. The healthcare gap between country and city was very obvious!"

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