Speaks First Meaningful Words
Child produces their first 1-3 spontaneous meaningful words referring to known people, objects, or actions. The onset of expressive vocabulary, typically following several months of canonical babbling. JP MHLW Heisei-22 survey reports 90%+ achieve this by 12-19 months; checkup question: 「言葉を話しますか（ことばの数）」. NOTE: this canonical fills a gap in the previously-merged English ontology, which had two-word imitation, naming, and pronoun-use canonicals but no entry for the foundational 1-3 spontaneous words milestone.
What the research says
Referenced across 1 developmental framework: jp_mhlw
Full quotes, source languages, and document links coming soon as we finish the source-evidence indexing pass.
Prerequisites
Foundational skill — no prerequisites indexed.
What mastery looks like
Does not yet exhibit speaks first meaningful words.
Beginning to show speaks first meaningful words with support or in limited contexts.
Demonstrates speaks first meaningful words reliably in familiar contexts.
Exhibits speaks first meaningful words consistently across contexts.
Speaks First Meaningful Words is automatic and integrated into routine behavior.
Activities for this (2)
The Naming Walk
Parent and child walk around the house (or sit together with a basket of objects) while the guide prompts the parent to point at and name familiar things, listening for whether the child labels them spontaneously, imitates, or attempts word approximations. Captures expressive language emergence alongside pointing and social referencing.
Reading Rhymes Together
This helps stimulate your baby's vocabulary by reciting rhymes. Read rhymes aloud to encourage vocabulary growth. Choose a book with short rhymes or simple poems. Read with clear pronunciation and rhythmic intonation. Repeat frequently and watch for attempts to mi
Formal assessments
No matching assessment items indexed yet.