Child Language Development
Don't be surprised if talking takes a back seat to walking for a little while.
Once your little one is steady on him/her feet, you'll be surprised at how much he/she has to say. Keep in mind there are marked differences among children in their word comprehension. Language development at this age includes:
- Distinguishing words
- Understanding others' words and phrases
- Forming words
- Learning that some things that look alike have different names, like a "cup" and a "juice glass"
- Following simple instructions
- Children often use gestures along with a word or two to communicate
Your Child’s Milestones
Children vary greatly in terms of how many words they understand and when they speak. Your child often understands far more words than he/she can say. On average, he/she might understand 20 to 30 words at 12 months or so, and speak 3 or 4 words.
Along about 18 months, there is a spurt in spoken language that often includes self-related words such as "me" and "mine." He’ll/She'll no doubt get a lot of mileage out of these words, along with a resounding "No!" when he’s/she's upset. His/her sentences increase to two, three, or four words. "You go." "Me want juice." "No wanna go car!" Keep a notebook handy. These early thoughts are priceless.
How Can Nutrition Help?
Language development involves good vision and hearing. A child also needs to be physically healthy to focus on learning language. All of these things can be supported by good nutrition. Be sure your little one is getting a balanced diet with all the recommended nutrients, carbohydrates, fat, protein, vitamins and minerals he/she needs.
