Speech and Language Traits of the
One-Year-Old

At age one year, your child will…

• Recognize his or her name
• Understand “no”
• Understand simple instructions
• Imitate familiar words
• Wave good-bye and play “pat-a-cake”
• Use “mama” and “dada” and several other words, usually nouns
• Like to make the “sounds” of familiar animals and things
• Give a toy on request
• Hear well and discriminate between many sounds

You can stimulate the one-year-old child’s speech and language by…

• Reading colorful books to the child
• Reciting nursery rhymes
• Encouraging imitation games such as “peek-a-boo”
• Using short words with the child
• Imitating the child’s movements and vocalizations
• Rewarding and encouraging early efforts at producing new words
• Not pressuring the child to perform for you
• Talking to the child about everything you’re doing when you’re with him or her

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