How Many Words Can a 20-Month-Old Say? A Friendly Guide for Parents

By the time your child reaches 20 months old, their language development is taking exciting strides. A typical 20-month-old will have around 12 to 15 words in their vocabulary. While they might not speak all the words they understand, receptive language skills, or the ability to understand words, usually come first and more naturally.

As your toddler continues to grow, you’ll notice them starting to form simple phrases. At this age, it’s normal for children to string together two- to three-word sentences. This not only showcases their speech development but also their desire to communicate and express needs.

Every child is different, so milestones can vary. If you’re curious about where your child stands or just want to explore more about language milestones for toddlers, there are helpful guidelines available on age-appropriate speech and language development.

Understanding Typical Language Milestones

Children develop language skills in stages, beginning with basic coos and progressing to more complex sentences. Here’s what you can expect at different stages of your child’s language development.

Early Communication (Birth to 12 Months)

In the early months, babies communicate mainly through cries and coos. They express pleasure and displeasure through different sounds, like giggles and cries. By six months, they begin to babble, often saying “ba-ba” or “ga-ga.” They also start to recognize familiar voices and respond to changes in the tone of your voice.

Around nine months, babies often understand simple words like “no.” They may also start pointing to objects or people to communicate what they want. Imitation plays a big role in this stage, as they try to mimic the sounds and gestures they see.

Language Progression (12 to 24 Months)

From 12 months onward, your toddler’s language skills rapidly improve. They start saying their first words, which are usually simple words like “mama” or “dada.” By 18 months, most toddlers have a spoken vocabulary of about 12 to 15 words. This is the time when they start combining words to form basic phrases.

At 24 months, children typically can put together two- or three-word sentences, like “want milk” or “go park.” Their receptive language, or the ability to understand words and phrases, grows even faster. They can follow simple two-step commands and begin to recognize common phrases or songs.

Examples of Language Milestones (18 to 23 Months)

Between 18 and 23 months, you might notice a big jump in your toddler’s language abilities. They will likely start using pronouns like “me” and “you.” Their vocabulary will expand rapidly, often including as many as 50 words by age two.

By this stage, toddlers are eager to mimic the words and sentences they hear around them. You might hear them trying out new words daily. They will also start asking questions, pointing to objects and naming them, and even begin using simple sentences like “want cookie.”

Factors Influencing Language Development

Several factors can influence how quickly and well your child develops language skills. Interaction with parents and caregivers is crucial. The more you talk, read, and sing to your child, the faster their language skills will grow. Genetics can also play a role, as can the presence of older siblings who talk to the child.

If you have concerns about your child’s language development, it might be helpful to consult with a speech-language pathologist or audiologist. Early intervention can be very effective in addressing any delays. Each child is unique, so it’s important to observe and support their individual pace of learning.

How Parents Can Encourage Language Growth

You can greatly aid your child’s language development with simple, everyday interactions. Talking to your child and reading together are essential activities that foster a love of language.

Engaging in Conversation and Reading

Talk to Your Child

To encourage language growth, engage in conversations with your child throughout the day. Describe what you’re doing, ask questions, and encourage your child to respond. The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association suggests that this interactive practice reinforces their language skills.

Reading Together

Reading to your child is another powerful tool. Choose books with colorful pictures and simple text. Point to the pictures and talk about them as you read. According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, reading nursery rhymes helps with vocabulary and understanding rhythm and sounds.

Use Simple, Clear Language

Keep your language simple and clear. Use short sentences and emphasize key words. Repeat words often to help them stick in your child’s memory. This method can be especially helpful if your child has communication disorders.

Encourage Interaction

Encourage your child to mimic sounds or words. Praise their attempts and gently correct mistakes. This positive reinforcement builds their confidence and encourages continued language practice.

By incorporating these practices into your daily routine, you can create a rich language environment that supports your child’s ongoing development.

Identifying and Addressing Delays in Speech and Language

Recognizing and dealing with speech and language delays at an early stage is crucial for your child’s communication development. This section details what to watch for, when to seek help, and the ways to support your child.

Observation and Early Indicators

It’s important to watch for key communication milestones. By 20 months, children typically have a growing vocabulary and can combine simple words. They should utter around 50 words, use simple sentences, and understand everyday words.

Notice if your child isn’t using gestures like pointing or waving. If they aren’t making varied speech sounds or are hard to understand, these could be signs of delays. Keep an eye on how they respond to sounds and interactions. Regular playtime and talking to your baby can help you monitor their progress.

When to Seek Professional Help

Consider seeking professional help if your child isn’t meeting developmental milestones for their age. If they struggle to use words correctly or aren’t saying first words by 18 months, you might consult a specialist.

Red flags include:

• Limited vocabulary
• Not understanding simple instructions
• Difficulty making specific sounds

Consult with a speech-language pathologist or an audiologist. Early identification is key to addressing issues effectively. These professionals can provide tailored strategies to support your child’s language development.

Methods for Evaluation and Support

Evaluations involve various methods to understand a child’s needs. Speech-language pathologists assess speech and language milestones through interactive activities and observations. They may use toys, pictures, and games to evaluate speech sounds and language skills.

Support may involve regular therapy sessions, parent-guided activities, and home exercises. Techniques include:

• Language-rich environments: Encourage through books, songs, and daily conversations.
• Interactive games: Tap into fun activities that involve naming objects and actions.
• Modeling speech: Repeat what your child says and expand on it with more complex sentences.

These methods aim to foster communication skills and ease language acquisition.

Language Development in Multilingual Environments

Bilingual or multilingual households create unique language development challenges and opportunities. Children in these environments may mix languages, but this is typical and part of normal language acquisition.

Encourage each language equally. You should speak your native language fluently to the child. Introduce them to books, songs, and activities in both languages. If you notice speech and language delays, it’s essential to get an evaluation to determine if the delay is language-specific or more general.

Engage with speech-language pathologists experienced in multilingualism. They can provide targeted strategies that respect the multilingual context and support language development across all languages your child is learning.

By staying proactive and informed, you can ensure your child achieves their communication milestones effectively, even in a multilingual environment.

Fun Activities to Boost Language Skills

Boosting your child’s language skills can be fun and interactive. Activities involving play, music, and storytelling can enhance vocabulary, pronunciation, and expressive language.

Interactive Play and Daily Activities

Engage in play that stimulates language development. Simple activities like pointing out items around the house or during a walk can help. For instance, naming colors and shapes is an easy way to build vocabulary. You can say, “Look at the blue car,” or “The ball is round.”

Animal sounds are another great way to combine fun and learning. You can say, “The cow says moo,” and encourage your child to repeat the sound. Adding gestures like waving or pointing can help your child link words with actions.

Pleasure sounds during play, like giggles and coos, encourage expressive language. During daily routines, talk to your child about what you are doing. Describe actions using action words like “washing,” “cooking,” or “cleaning.” Simple instructions or questions, such as “Where is your toy?” or “Can you bring me the book?” can also help improve receptive language.

Incorporating Songs and Actions

Songs and nursery rhymes are excellent for language learning. Nursery rhymes often have repetitive and rhyming patterns that are easy for young children to remember and sing along. Classics like “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” or “Old MacDonald Had a Farm” are great examples.

Combine songs with actions to reinforce words. For example, during “The Wheels on the Bus,” you can mimic the actions of the wheels going round and round. Similarly, action songs like “If You’re Happy and You Know It” encourage kids to follow directions and use verbs like “clap” or “stomp.”

Use music to introduce new descriptive words and concepts. Sing songs about the weather, like “Rain, Rain, Go Away,” to teach words like “rain” and “sun.” This makes learning enjoyable and memorable.

Language Games and Storytelling

Language games make learning interactive. Simple word games, like pointing out and naming household items, are effective. During a road trip, you can ask your child to identify objects outside, like cars, trees, or animals. This practice helps expand vocabulary and improve receptive language.

Storytelling is another powerful tool. Reading books together allows your child to hear new words and understand their context. Books with repetitive phrases and simple sentences are ideal. Encourage your child to predict what happens next, fostering imagination and interaction.

Create stories together by using pictures. Ask simple questions like, “What do you think the cat is doing?” to boost expressive language and creativity. Remember, the goal is to make language learning a fun and regular part of your child’s day.