How many words should a child say?  This is a frequent question asked by parents!

Like all developmental milestones, there is a RANGE in the number of words typically developing children can say.

What is most important is that a child is meeting the milestone for his age, regardless of gender, birth order, or if he is exposed to more than one language.

The “Milestone” column shows the minimum number of words we expect a child to say at each age.  It is what 90% of children can say.  If your child is below what is expected, your child may be at risk for a language delay and intervention may be needed.  If this is the case, we recommend you consult with a Speech-Language Pathologist.

The “Average” column shows approximately the number of words 50% of children can say at each age.  This is not a maximum.  Some children will have vocabulary sizes even larger.  What it means is that half of children at this age have a vocabulary size around this number.

So, why do you need to know the difference between the average and the milestone?  If your child is 18 months old and saying 10 words, you may think, “oh, he’s not far off.”  However, the average number of words at that age is 50 words!  See the difference? 

Knowing the milestones is important but it is also good to be aware of the averages for your child’s age.  Even if a child has a vocabulary size that falls on the low end of the range listed for his age, there are ways we can enhance and support their communication. 

If you have any questions or concerns about your child’s language development or would like information about how you can help your child’s language skills grow, please call us at 1-888-623-6363 to speak with a Speech-Language Pathologist.