When your child is around 18 months, most children experience a naming explosion, or word spurt, where they can learn up to eight new words a day.
During this time, children start understanding that all things have names, and they start to speed up the naming process. This means they can hear a new word and work out its meaning after hearing it only a few times.
Although 18 months is a common age for this to happen, it can happen earlier or later. Every child is different, and you might not even notice it in your toddler.
Watch the short video below to find out more about this vocabulary explosion.
It’s that time! At around 18 months, children go through a naming explosion, when they start rapidly learning the names of things – up to eight names a day according to some studies! But learning names is trickier than it looks. When your child hears a new naming word it’s hard to know what it’s the name of. It could be the name of anything they can see at that moment!
So, by the time they’re two years old, your child uses a clever trick where they use the words they do know to learn the words they don’t know. Here’s how it works. Let’s say they can see three toys: a horse, a dog, and a red and yellow toy with wings. If they already know the words ‘horse’ and ‘dog’, then when they hear the new word ‘parrot’,they can assume this new word is the name of the new toy. This means you can help your child learn new words by simply talking to them about their toys, and always using the toy’s name.
It’s amazing what a little talking can do.In recent research, scientists fitted a house with cameras and recorded all the language a child heard and spoke from birth. Between the ages of 9 and 24 months, they said an amazing 679 different words, but don’t worry if your little one isn’t saying that many yet, every child’s different. So, just by talking with your little one, you’ll be exposing them to a phenomenal amount of language which means they’re learning new words the whole time!
What happens in a toddler's brain during this naming explosion?
When your child hears a new naming word, their brain has to work out exactly what it is the name of. It could be the name of anything they can see at that moment.
So, by the time they’re two years old, your child uses a clever trick where they use the words they do know to learn the words they don’t know.
But how does it work?
Imagine your child can see three toys or objects, such as a horse, a dog, and a red and yellow toy with wings. If they already know the words ‘horse’ and ‘dog’, then when they hear the new word ‘parrot’, they can assume this new word is the name of the new toy.
Their brain is essentially learning about the process of elimination and using it to help them pick up new words very quickly.
Your child will use a range of speech sounds, but it’s normal for toddlers to pronounce words differently from the way adults say them. Your child’s pronunciation will often be hard to understand, especially for people who don't speak to them everyday. This is completely normal.
Find out more about how your toddler's pronunciation develops.
How can you support your toddler's vocabulary development?
One of the easiest ways you can help your toddler during this period is by simply talking to them as much as possible. Name as many things as possible and use gestures to show them what you're talking about.
You don't need to chatter nonstop, but speak to your child whenever you're together. Describe what you're playing with, point things out and ask questions.
By doing this, you’ll be exposing them to loads of language, which means they will pick up new words all the time.
