How can I help my child use more words?
Supporting Language Development in Young Children: A Focus on Word Types
When parents of young children are concerned that their child isn’t using many words yet, one of the first questions I ask is: “What types of words are they using?” While the number of words is important, the types of words your child uses can reveal much more about their language development and what they’re ready to express.
Here’s a quick breakdown of the types of words to watch for:
📕 Label words
These are words that help your child name the world around them—things that are important to them, or help them express their immediate needs:
milk, shoes, apple, park, toy.
🏃 Action words
These words describe actions your child is likely to do, or notice others doing: go, stop, help, wash, eat, drink, sleep.
👋🏻 Social words
These are the words that help children connect and interact with others: mum, dad, nan, hi, bye, ta.
If your child is mainly using labeling words, that’s okay—it’s a great start! But you can help them expand by intentionally using more action and social words. This can help them form more powerful and meaningful messages and start combining words into small phrases.
Here are some ideas for focusing on action words during daily activities:
🛁 Bath time: splash, wash, squirt, pour, tip, dry
🍏 Snack time: bite, cut, sip, drink, eat
☀️ Park time: swing, push, run, climb, hide, catch
By introducing new word types and modeling them in context, you’re helping your child build their language in a fun and natural way, all while supporting their ability to express themselves with more detail and clarity. And if your child is non-speaking or has limited speech, it’s important to focus on the ways they communicate, rather than solely on the types of words they’re using. For more information about this, head to our blog “Communication Without Words: Supporting Non-Speaking Children”
About the writer:
Lauren is a speech pathologist who has over 18 years experience working with children and teenagers who present with a range of learning and communication differences. Lauren is passionate about helping others and loves to find simple and creative ways to make learning fun!
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