Children usually understand more words than they can say. The first word that children usually recognize is their name. Most parents report that by 8 to 9 months their child often looks or turns toward them when they call their child's name. Parents can reliably report how many words their child understands if given a list of words to choose from. Children usually use their first word around their first birthday and can use dozens before their second birthday .
Parents can reliably report how many words their child uses if given a list of words to choose from.
These are not necessarily all the words the child uses, but a quick and reliable way to index word use. As children's vocabulary grows, they begin to combine words and are on their way to constructing sentences. The average age that children begin to combine words is 19 months. Most parents report that their child puts two words together by 21 to 22 months. Knowing how to use objects helps children learn the names of objects.