First 100 Words Checklist · The Speech Community

First 100 Words Checklist

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. 💛

4 comments

skool.com/the-speech-community-2430

The Speech Community: Where moms support each other through speech delays, late talkers & communication concerns. SLP-led. Free to join now! 💕

Leaderboard (30-day)