As parents, we’re always concerned that our children get the support and education they need to develop to their fullest extent. One of the ways to judge whether or not a child has difficulty learning is by tracking their vocabulary development. According to Leslie Rescorla of the of the Child Study Institute at Bryn Mawr College in Pennsylvania, parents can refer to a list of common words to see whether or not those words are in their child’s active vocabulary.*

Dr. Rescorla has developed a list of over 300 words that she believes should be in an average two-year-old’s active vocabulary. When she works with parents who are concerned that their child might have a speech delay or difficulty learning, she asks them to use the list to check off the words their child uses, whether alone or in combination. Because difficulty or delay in vocabulary and speech development in young children often indicates a problem that can cause issues for the child even into adulthood, it’s important that parents identify any problem as early as possible.

Here are some of the common words that Dr. Rescorla lists as those which every two-year-old should know and be able to use:

mommy, daddy, baby
thank you, yes, no
bye bye, hello, hi
cat, dog, car, book, shoe
juice, milk, banana, cookie

The study by Dr. Rescorla was done using data from all over the world, and she concluded that these basic 300 words are common to all children, no matter their native language (of course, in countries where bananas are not readily available, there would likely be an equivalent common fruit name).

Dr. Rescorla notes that even if parents detect a possible problem, it may not mean that there is another developmental disability, such as autism, that could significantly impact the child’s vocabulary and education. In fact, with parents’ help and encouragement, most “late bloomers” catch up with their peers by age five.

If you’re concerned that your child’s vocabulary development may be slower than in should be, it’s important that you take an active role in helping them overcome obstacles to learning vocabulary. You can read to your child, and point to the words as you read. Talk to them frequently, and show them common objects while saying the names out loud. Ask questions so that they have to use those vocabulary words in order to respond. Most importantly, stay involved with your child’s education, and you’ll provide the support they need to do their best in school, and in the years to come.

* “Active vocabulary” refers to words a person knows and is able to use. “Passive vocabulary” (or “receptive vocabulary”) means the words someone might have heard or known at one time, but that they don’t know how to use correctly now.