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First words don’t appear randomly. Why these words come first: ✔ They have simple word shapes (CV, CVCV like ma, ba, go) ✔ They use early-developing speech sounds (b, m, p, d, n, w) ✔ They are highly functional in daily routine ✔ They are heard frequently and paired with meaning First words can vary greatly. These are just some words that often occur early. What counts as a first word? A word counts if your child uses it consistently, independently, and intentionally, even if it’s not pronounced perfectly. ✔ Spoken words or close approximations ✔ Signs or gestures used with meaning ✔ Animal sounds (“moo,” “woof”) ✔ Environmental sounds (“beep-beep,” “uh-oh”) ✔ Words used through AAC 💡 How to use this checklist: - Check words off as you notice your child expressing them - Model words that your child has expressed to encourage vocabulary growth and generalization - Follow your child’s lead and let words grow through play and routines Small words. Big progress. 💛