As a parent, it's understandable to have questions about your child's speech development. Understanding the expected milestones for your child's age can help you monitor their linguistic progress. One question that often arises is: "How many words should a 20-month-old say?" In this article, we'll explore the typical vocabulary size for a 20-month-old, factors that affect their speech development, and steps you can take to encourage your child's speech skills.
By 20 months, most children have a vocabulary of around 50 to 100 words. However, it's essential to remember that every child develops at their own pace, and there is a wide range of normal when it comes to language development. Some children may have a larger vocabulary, while others may have a smaller one, and that's perfectly okay.
To help your 20-month-old's speech development, you can:
how many words should a 20 month old say
Vocabulary size varies.
- Average: 50-100 words.
- Range is normal.
- Milestone, not a rule.
- Development is individual.
- Communication is key.
- Talk, read, sing, play.
- Enrich language skills.
- Support speech journey.
Remember, every child is unique.
Average: 50-100 words.
The average vocabulary size for a 20-month-old is between 50 and 100 words. This means that most children at this age have a basic understanding of this many words and can use them to communicate their needs and wants.
- Wide range of normal:
It's important to remember that there is a wide range of normal when it comes to language development. Some children may have a larger vocabulary, while others may have a smaller one, and that's perfectly okay.
- Milestone, not a rule:
The average vocabulary size is a milestone, not a rule. It's a general guideline to help you understand your child's progress, but it doesn't mean that your child is behind if they don't have exactly 50 or 100 words at 20 months.
- Development is individual:
Every child develops at their own pace, and language development is no exception. Some children may start talking earlier than others, while others may take a little longer. There's no need to compare your child to others; just focus on their individual progress.
- Communication is key:
The most important thing is that your child is communicating with you, regardless of how many words they know. Pay attention to your child's gestures, facial expressions, and body language. These are all ways that your child communicates with you, even before they have a large vocabulary.
If you're concerned about your child's speech development, talk to your doctor or a speech therapist. They can assess your child's skills and provide you with guidance and support.
Range is normal.
There is a wide range of normal when it comes to language development. Some children may have a larger vocabulary than others, and that's perfectly okay. Here are a few reasons why there is a range of normal:
- Individual development:
Every child develops at their own pace, and this includes language development. Some children may start talking earlier than others, while others may take a little longer. There's no need to compare your child to others; just focus on their individual progress.
- Environmental factors:
A child's environment can also play a role in their language development. Children who are exposed to a lot of language, such as those who are read to regularly or who have parents who talk to them a lot, may have a larger vocabulary than children who are not exposed to as much language.
- Temperament:
A child's temperament can also affect their language development. Some children are more outgoing and social than others, and these children may start talking earlier than shy or reserved children.
- Hearing and speech problems:
If a child has hearing or speech problems, this can also affect their language development. Children who have trouble hearing may not be able to understand the words that they hear, and children who have trouble speaking may not be able to produce the words that they want to say.
If you're concerned about your child's speech development, talk to your doctor or a speech therapist. They can assess your child's skills and provide you with guidance and support.
Milestone, not a rule.
The average vocabulary size of 50-100 words at 20 months is a milestone, not a rule. This means that it's a general guideline to help you understand your child's progress, but it doesn't mean that your child is behind if they don't have exactly 50 or 100 words at 20 months.
- Development is individual:
Every child develops at their own pace, and this includes language development. Some children may start talking earlier than others, while others may take a little longer. There's no need to compare your child to others; just focus on their individual progress.
- Wide range of normal:
There is a wide range of normal when it comes to language development. Some children may have a larger vocabulary than others, and that's perfectly okay. As long as your child is communicating with you, regardless of how many words they know, that's what's important.
- Focus on communication:
Instead of focusing on the number of words your child knows, focus on their overall communication skills. Pay attention to their gestures, facial expressions, and body language. These are all ways that your child communicates with you, even before they have a large vocabulary.
- Talk to your doctor:
If you're concerned about your child's speech development, talk to your doctor or a speech therapist. They can assess your child's skills and provide you with guidance and support.
Remember, every child is unique. Just because your child doesn't have a vocabulary of 50-100 words at 20 months doesn't mean that there's anything wrong. Just keep talking to your child, reading to them, and playing with them. Your child will learn to talk in their own time.
Development is individual.
Every child develops at their own pace, and this includes language development. Some children may start talking earlier than others, while others may take a little longer. There's no need to compare your child to others; just focus on their individual progress.
There are many factors that can affect a child's language development, including their temperament, their environment, and their overall health. Some children are more outgoing and social than others, and these children may start talking earlier than shy or reserved children. Children who are exposed to a lot of language, such as those who are read to regularly or who have parents who talk to them a lot, may also start talking earlier than children who are not exposed to as much language.
It's also important to remember that language development is not always linear. Children may go through periods of rapid language growth, followed by periods of slower growth. This is perfectly normal. Just keep talking to your child, reading to them, and playing with them, and they will learn to talk in their own time.
If you're concerned about your child's speech development, talk to your doctor or a speech therapist. They can assess your child's skills and provide you with guidance and support.
Remember, every child is unique. Just because your child doesn't start talking as early as other children doesn't mean that there's anything wrong. Just keep talking to your child, reading to them, and playing with them. Your child will learn to talk in their own time.
Communication is key.
The most important thing is that your child is communicating with you, regardless of how many words they know. Pay attention to your child's gestures, facial expressions, and body language. These are all ways that your child communicates with you, even before they have a large vocabulary.
- Respond to your child's attempts to communicate:
When your child makes a gesture or a sound, respond to them. This shows your child that you're paying attention and that you're interested in what they have to say.
- Talk to your child throughout the day:
Talk to your child about everything you're doing, even if they don't understand everything you're saying. This helps your child to learn new words and to understand how language works.
- Read to your child regularly:
Reading to your child is a great way to expose them to new words and to help them develop their language skills. Point out new words and pictures as you read, and encourage your child to talk about the story.
- Play games with your child:
Playing games with your child is a fun way to help them learn new words and to develop their communication skills. Games like Simon Says, I Spy, and Go Fish are all great ways to help your child learn new words and to practice using them in context.
By following these tips, you can help your child develop their communication skills and learn to talk in their own time.
Talk, read, sing, play.
One of the best ways to help your child learn to talk is to talk to them as much as possible. Talk to your child about everything you're doing, even if they don't understand everything you're saying. This helps your child to learn new words and to understand how language works.
Reading to your child is also a great way to expose them to new words and to help them develop their language skills. Point out new words and pictures as you read, and encourage your child to talk about the story. Reading to your child also helps them to learn about different cultures and to develop their imagination.
Singing songs with your child is another fun way to help them learn new words and to develop their language skills. Many children's songs are repetitive, which makes them easy for children to learn. Singing songs also helps children to learn about rhythm and rhyme.
Playing games with your child is a great way to help them learn new words and to develop their communication skills. Games like Simon Says, I Spy, and Go Fish are all great ways to help your child learn new words and to practice using them in context.
By talking, reading, singing, and playing with your child, you can help them develop their language skills and learn to talk in their own time.
Enrich language skills.
There are many things you can do to help enrich your child's language skills, including:
Expose your child to new words: Talk to your child about everything you're doing, even if they don't understand everything you're saying. Point out new objects and things in your environment and label them. Read to your child regularly and point out new words as you read. Encourage your child to ask questions about new words they hear.
Encourage your child to talk: Respond to your child's attempts to communicate, even if they're just making sounds or gestures. When your child says a new word, praise them and encourage them to say it again. Ask your child questions that require them to use more than one word to answer. Play games with your child that encourage them to talk, such as Simon Says or I Spy.
Make learning fun: Learning should be fun for children. Make language learning fun by playing games, singing songs, and reading stories. You can also make up your own games and activities to help your child learn new words and concepts.
Be patient: Every child learns at their own pace. Don't get discouraged if your child doesn't start talking as early as other children. Just keep talking to your child, reading to them, and playing with them. Your child will learn to talk in their own time.
By following these tips, you can help your child develop their language skills and learn to talk in their own time.
Support speech journey.
There are many things you can do to support your child's speech journey, including:
- Talk to your child: Talk to your child as much as possible, even if they don't understand everything you're saying. This helps them to learn new words and to understand how language works.
- Read to your child: Read to your child regularly. Point out new words and pictures and encourage them to talk about the story. This helps them to learn new words and to develop their language skills.
- Sing songs with your child: Sing songs with your child. Many children's songs are repetitive, which makes them easy for children to learn. This helps them to learn new words and to develop their language skills.
- Play games with your child: Play games with your child that encourage them to talk. Games like Simon Says, I Spy, and Go Fish are all great ways to help your child learn new words and to practice using them in context.
You can also support your child's speech journey by:
- Being patient: Every child learns at their own pace. Don't get discouraged if your child doesn't start talking as early as other children. Just keep talking to them, reading to them, and playing with them. They will learn to talk in their own time.
- Praising your child: Praise your child when they say something new or when they use language correctly. This helps them to feel confident in their language skills.
- Seeking help if you're concerned: If you're concerned about your child's speech development, talk to your doctor or a speech therapist. They can assess your child's skills and provide you with guidance and support.
FAQ
Here are some frequently asked questions about how many words a 20-month-old should say:
Question 1: How many words should a 20-month-old say?
Answer: The average vocabulary size for a 20-month-old is between 50 and 100 words. However, there is a wide range of normal when it comes to language development. Some children may have a larger vocabulary, while others may have a smaller one, and that's perfectly okay.
Question 2: What if my child doesn't have 50 words at 20 months?
Answer: If your child doesn't have 50 words at 20 months, don't worry. Every child develops at their own pace, and there is a wide range of normal when it comes to language development. Just keep talking to your child, reading to them, and playing with them. They will learn to talk in their own time.
Question 3: How can I help my child learn new words?
Answer: There are many things you can do to help your child learn new words, including talking to them as much as possible, reading to them regularly, singing songs with them, and playing games with them that encourage them to talk.
Question 4: What are some signs that my child may have a speech delay?
Answer: Some signs that your child may have a speech delay include: not babbling by 12 months, not saying any words by 18 months, having difficulty understanding what others are saying, or having difficulty pronouncing words.
Question 5: What should I do if I'm concerned about my child's speech development?
Answer: If you're concerned about your child's speech development, talk to your doctor or a speech therapist. They can assess your child's skills and provide you with guidance and support.
Question 6: How can I support my child's speech journey?
Answer: There are many things you can do to support your child's speech journey, including: talking to them as much as possible, reading to them regularly, singing songs with them, playing games with them that encourage them to talk, being patient, praising them when they say something new or use language correctly, and seeking help if you're concerned.
Remember, every child is unique and learns at their own pace. Just keep talking to your child, reading to them, and playing with them. They will learn to talk in their own time.
Here are some additional tips for helping your child develop their language skills:
Tips
Here are four practical tips for helping your child develop their language skills:
Tip 1: Talk to your child as much as possible.
Talk to your child about everything you're doing, even if they don't understand everything you're saying. This helps them to learn new words and to understand how language works. You can also point out new objects and things in your environment and label them. For example, you could say, "Look at the pretty flower" or "This is a big ball."
Tip 2: Read to your child regularly.
Reading to your child is a great way to expose them to new words and to help them develop their language skills. Point out new words and pictures as you read, and encourage your child to talk about the story. You can also ask your child questions about the story, such as "What did the dog do?" or "Where did the girl go?"
Tip 3: Sing songs with your child.
Singing songs with your child is a fun way to help them learn new words and to develop their language skills. Many children's songs are repetitive, which makes them easy for children to learn. Singing songs also helps children to learn about rhythm and rhyme.
Tip 4: Play games with your child.
Playing games with your child is a great way to help them learn new words and to develop their communication skills. Games like Simon Says, I Spy, and Go Fish are all great ways to help your child learn new words and to practice using them in context.
Remember, every child is unique and learns at their own pace. Just keep talking to your child, reading to them, and playing with them. They will learn to talk in their own time.
By following these tips, you can help your child develop their language skills and learn to talk in their own time.
Conclusion
Every child is unique and learns at their own pace. The average vocabulary size for a 20-month-old is between 50 and 100 words, but there is a wide range of normal when it comes to language development. If you're concerned about your child's speech development, talk to your doctor or a speech therapist. They can assess your child's skills and provide you with guidance and support.
In the meantime, there are many things you can do to help your child develop their language skills. Talk to them as much as possible, read to them regularly, sing songs with them, and play games with them. You can also point out new objects and things in your environment and label them. By following these tips, you can help your child learn new words and to develop their language skills in their own time.
Remember, the most important thing is to communicate with your child. Pay attention to their gestures, facial expressions, and body language. These are all ways that your child communicates with you, even before they have a large vocabulary.