What will your baby鈥檚 first word be? Well, if it鈥檚 not 鈥楳ama鈥 and it鈥檚 not 鈥楧ada鈥, don鈥檛 be upset! Some words are easier than others! It鈥檚 not an exact science, but most babies say their first words at around a year old. They鈥檙e usually words for things they see a lot, hear a lot and like! So 鈥榯eddy鈥, 鈥榖lanket鈥 and maybe, just maybe鈥 鈥榤ama鈥! But whatever they say, they probably won鈥檛 say it properly straight away.
Making the right shape with your mouth to say a word is actually very complicated for baby, using muscles they won鈥檛 have used yet. But, as they grow, and hear more words, they鈥檒l start to sound better and better. To help them learn, just talk to them about whatever they鈥檙e looking at or showing an interest in!
Scientists have shown that toddlers learn words for objects best when they can hold them in their hands and have them close and centre in their vision. They also found from analysing brain responses, that hearing the same word repeated four times helped baby retain the word the next day. Try taking your toddler to new places, where they鈥檒l hear words they wouldn鈥檛 hear at home. And even if they don鈥檛 say words right, just respond to what they say and say the right word back to them. It really is that simple!
What will your baby鈥檚 first word be?
They鈥檙e usually words for things they see and hear a lot. Discover the science behind it all.
Image caption, What will your baby鈥檚 first word be? Well, if it鈥檚 not 鈥楳ama鈥 and it鈥檚 not 鈥楧ada鈥, don鈥檛 be upset! Some words are easier than others!
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