Based on common milestones, besides "Mama" and "Dada," favorite and important words to focus on include "bye-bye," "milk," "cookie," "car," "oh!," and "my." At this age, many toddlers also start combining two words to form basic phrases like "All gone," "Want ball," or "Me up."
Understanding 18-Month-Old Communication
By 18 months, toddlers are rapidly expanding their vocabulary and beginning to understand that words represent objects, actions, and ideas. While the number of words can vary greatly among children, focusing on key words they encounter daily is beneficial.
Common First Words
Beyond the expected "Mama" and "Dada," several other words are typical for toddlers around 18 months. These often relate to things they interact with, daily routines, or strong emotions.
- Objects: Words for common toys, food, drinks, and household items (e.g., "car," "milk," "cookie").
- Actions: Simple action words (e.g., "go," "eat," "sleep"). While not explicitly listed in the reference, these are crucial for early communication.
- Social Words: Greetings and expressions (e.g., "bye-bye," "hello").
- Exclamations: Simple sounds or words expressing surprise or observation (e.g., "oh!").
- Possessives/Demonstratives: Words indicating ownership or pointing something out (e.g., "my").
Reference Highlight: As mentioned in the reference, key words to teach include "bye-bye," "milk," "cookie," "car," "oh!," and "my."
Early Word Combinations
A significant development around 18 months is the ability to link two words together. This shows they are starting to grasp basic sentence structure. These early phrases are often simple and lack connecting words.
Examples provided in the reference include:
- "All gone"
- "Want ball"
- "Me up"
Teaching words that easily combine into these simple phrases can encourage this next step in language development.
Practical Tips for Teaching Words
Here are some ways to help your 18-month-old learn new words:
- Talk Constantly: Narrate your day. "We are putting on your socks." "Here is your milk."
- Label Everything: Point to objects and say their names clearly. "Look, a dog!"
- Read Together: Point to pictures in books and say the words.
- Sing Songs: Songs with repetitive words and actions are great for learning.
- Use Simple Language: Keep your sentences short and clear.
- Expand on Their Words: If they say "car," you can say, "Yes, that's a blue car."
- Use Gestures: Pair words with actions (e.g., wave for "bye-bye").
Recommended Words to Focus On
While every child is different, focusing on words related to their daily life, needs, and interests is effective.
| Word Category | Examples (from Reference & Common) | Why They are Important |
|---|---|---|
| Needs/Wants | milk, cookie, water, more, eat, drink | Helps them communicate basic needs |
| Objects | car, ball, book, shoe, dog, cat | Labels familiar things in their environment |
| Actions | go, up, down, open, close | Describes what they or others are doing |
| Social | bye-bye, hi, please, thank you | Facilitates interaction and politeness |
| Exclamations/Misc | oh!, uh-oh, yay | Expresses feelings or observations |
| Possessives | my | Introduces concepts of ownership |
| Combinations | All gone, Want ball, Me up | Encourages early sentence formation based on reference |
Focusing on these types of words, as highlighted by typical development and the provided reference, will support your 18-month-old's language growth.
