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Thirteen to Fifteen Months
LANGUAGE
Most children can say around 6 to 8 words at this age. His pronunciation is
clearer and easier to understand compared to the previous months. However,
most of them can't make phrases yet. Your child's understanding is more
advanced than his spoken language. He wants to say more than his
spoken language will permit. At times, his limited vocabulary may frustrate
him.
Many children who did not utter any clear word during the first birthday
will do so by around 15 months old. This is followed by a gradual buildup of
single words that he can use. His body language becomes more subtle compared
to the previous months because he can communicate more directly with words
he has learned.
During the three months following his first birthday, you should not expect
rapid acquisition of lots of words. He might learn to use only seven or
eight words and this occurs in virtually all children from different
countries. So don't rush him to learn too many new words.
Some of the common words at 15 months old are: milk, car, up, bye, mine,
big, want, please. He prefers to use words associated with actions that he
can do, such as playing and eating. However, he is not likely to point or refer
to objects that he can't move or manipulate.
Action rhymes whose endings he anticipates can make him giggle, such as
"This Little Piggy." This type of activity will make him associate learning
new words with fun. It will further promote his determination to talk.
He likes to participate when he hears nursery rhymes, songs, and poems. At
this stage he is getting more active with spoken words, so when he hears a
song he wants to participate. Sometimes you can leave the last word in a
popular nursery rhyme out and he will supply it.
[16 months old – four to six word vocabulary, one-step command without gesture; Solves pellet-bottle spontaneously, round block on form board, scribbles in imitation. Harriet Lane, 15th ed, page 201]
BODY LANGUAGE
Children between 13 to 15 months frequently use nonverbal means of
expressing themselves by facial expressions, posturing, breathing, muscle
tensions, and noises. Their body language is more subtle now compared to
the previous stage at 12 months old.
Because these young toddlers have few basic spoken words, you can foster
Body language by figuring out what they want and mean. Researchers have found
that parents intuitively respond to their child's positive body language by
mirroring the emotion. Parents usually smile, laugh, and relax when
their child is having a fun time. However, when a child is acting
negatively, parents tend to remove the root of the child's discomfort.
HOW TO ENCOURAGE TALKING IN 15 MONTHS OLD
Point and name body parts. Hold his hand, point, and say, "This is your
nose." Then point at your nose and say, "This is mommy's nose." You can also
point and count both of his ears, and say, "One ear, two ears." Ask him,
"Now point and count mommy's ears."
Always do pretend play. Get one of his toy trucks. Play and pretend that
He is riding in the truck with full sound effects, "rumm, rumm, rumm, we will
go to the park." Or you can ask questions about the truck like, "How many
tires are there?" "What is the color of the truck?" "Where is the driver of the
truck?"
Encourage his listening skills. If there is a loud nose from the street
outside, stop what you are doing and ask him, "Did you hear that noise? Come
let us look outside." He might say, "Car" then take him out. When you turn
on the dishwasher, request him to hear it, and ask, "Can you hear that
swiss, swiss sound?" Explain to him what is going on inside the dishwasher with
animated voice and body language with your hands.
Talk about the stories you read with him. When you read a story to him, ask
him questions about the characters in the story. "What is the color of
Peter's shirt?" Let him count objects or animals in the picture book. "How
many cars are there?"
Respond to his body language with words. If he points to the refrigerator
and you know that he is thirsty, you can say, "I can see you would like
orange juice or milk?" Open the fridge and get a carton of both milk and
orange juice. Then ask him, "Which one do you want to drink?"
Use words that compare things. Get a teaspoon and a tablespoon. Place both
on top of the dinner table. Explain to him that the tablespoon is bigger
than a teaspoon. Then get two drinking glasses of different sizes. Show
both of them and point to the taller one and say, " This glass is taller than this
one" pointing to the smaller one.
React positively to each new word that you hear. When you hear a new word
from him, repeat it, and elaborate on the word, and its meaning. Use the
word again in front of him.
Newborn 2 Months 3 Months 4 Months 5 Months 6 Months 9 Months
12 Months 15 Months 18 Months 24 Months 27-30 Months 36 Months
4 Years Old
Leo Leonidas, MD, FAAP Assistant Clinical Professor In Pediatrics, Tufts University, Boston; Attending Pediatrician, Eastern Maine Medical Center, Bangor
Please Send Your Comments/Suggestion to: lleonidas@pcpediatrics.org
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