First Words Checklist
Knowing where your child should be according to communication milestones and which milestones they have acquired are simply two different things! Have you walked into a pediatrician’s office and been asked “How many words does your child say?” This can sometimes be hard to answer. They might gesture for some words, have word approximations (Wawa for water), said a word in the past but not said it again… and so on! This First Words Checklist is the solution for you to keep track of the words your child is producing overtime. Keep it on your phone and update it overtime or put it on your refrigerator to help remind you!
In addition - many people start by teaching children words like shapes, colors, and letters. While these are important, and there is an appropriate time for them, they do not best serve a child who is learning to communicate for the first time. Children develop communication, speech, and language best from words that are functional and frequently used or needed. These words are used in play and meet the needs and wants of our children. There is a great deal of motivation and incentive in using these words; thus, they propel the child to communicate!
The PDF on “First Words Checklist” is available for you to download below. In this PDF, you will find a list of words you can help model for your child while interacting with them, as well as keep track of which words you have heard your child either say or sign.
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