Toddler Language Developmentby Mary Ann Romans | More from this Blogger 19 May 2009 05:09 AM Language development explodes during toddlerhood, with new words being acquired daily. For example when your your reaches eighteen months, his or her vocabulary should increase up to five times the amount that it was when he or she was only fifteen months old. First words The first words that a baby says are usually mama and dada. We see this across cultural lines, and it isn't surprising that these first words are usually reserved for the baby's parents. After that, the first word could be anyone's guess. The word "more" is a popular first word, as is the name of a beloved toy, pet or caregiver. My oldest son's first word was "gentle," probably because he loved petting the cat. My youngest son's first word was, "uh-oh," which should tell you something. My daughter's first word was actually a sentence run together, "here-ya-go." To this day, she loves to be helpful. Encouraging language development It is very likely you are already doing everything you can to encourage your child's language development. One of the great wonders of nature is that there seems to be an intuitive method that parents use to promote a child's language development. Most parents naturally do exactly what is needed to encourage this development. If you want to ensure that you are doing all that you can for your child's language development, take advantage of he following tips: Read often to your child, looking at picture books and discussing the objects on the pages. When you child says a word or is interested in an object, expand on that to offer details. Talk to your baby throughout the day, describing what you are doing, whether it is changing a diaper or doing laundry. Use simple sentences and pause frequently to give your baby a chance to absorb what you are saying. Sing all of the favorite baby songs, especially finger play songs and rhythm games. Ask lot of questions using a sing song voice. Your baby knows a response is expected and will make an effort. Mary Ann Romans writes about everything related to saving money in the Frugal Blog, creating a home in the Home Blog, caring for little ones in the Baby Blog and now relationships in the Marriage Blog. You can read more of her articles by clicking here or subscribe to the blog using the subscription box on the right. Related Articles: Babies Are Built to Say "Mama" and "Dada" First! What the Average 12-Month-Old Should be Doing Six-Month-Old Infants Can Understand Math Developmental Milestones and When You Should Worry Learn more about Mary Ann Romans  Mary Ann Romans is a freelance writer, wife and mother of three children. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, the kids and a 16-pound cat. Relevantbaby tags User Comments No comments on this article yet. Be the first to comment! Discuss this article
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