Toddlers go through a language spurt in their third year. In the first six months of the year, they may double the number of words they can use in speech. At thirty months of age, they may have as many as 2,400 words in their vocabulary. Around this time, it's not uncommon for children to add 10 to 20 new words a week. Researchers think the sudden explosion in vocabulary use reflects the fact that children better understand how to categorize words, particularly the names for things and animate beings. If they can fit a new word into a familiar category, it's easier to remember. Interestingly, bilingual children seem to become aware of categories earlier than children whose families speak one language at home.
While he's increasing his vocabulary, your toddler may still have trouble making some sounds at this stage, especially consonant sounds like s, r, l and th. He is likely to master the h sound first, but the other consonant sounds may continue to cause difficulties until he is four or five.
A toddler is also trying to understand how and when pronouns change in form. His identity is linked to I and me, but when his parents talk to him he becomes you. How can that be, when his parents are you as well? It doesn't make sense. Since he's beginning to apply logic to his language, he devises a clever solution to the problem. He calls everyone - even himself - by his proper name and avoids pronouns altogether, as in Joey go home.
Experimenting with words
As with other language mysteries, with enough exposure to language, children eventually separate words into those that follow logical patterns and those that don't. With a language that uses -ough for the different sounds of cough, through, although, and enough, we have to admit that English does not always follow rules - of spelling, pronunication, or grammar. In fact, it's a marvel that children learn as quickly as they do. Don't always try to "correct" them, so that you don't stifle their interest in experimenting with language. Make opportunities to model the language correctly for them, and they will eventually fit it into their perception of how language works. Their more fluent use of language will come as their desire increases to make themselves understood clearly, to achieve what they want, or to satisfy their needs.
With better language skills comes a better ability to ask questions, a skill every toddler delights in practising. Toddlers ask a lot of questions for a very good reason - they want to know the answers. Someone has to tell them the names of things and what those things are used for. Don't forget that everything from the telephone to the bird at the feeder is a new discovery. Answer the questions as best you can. You don't need to give full details. When a toddler asks about the telephone, she doesn't expect a lecture on telecommunications. A simple answer will keep her happy.
