“What’s this?!”
A new mom reached out yesterday, requesting an explanation of that phase “when toddlers start pointing at everything, wondering what it’s called” - and noting that it’s her 13-month-old’s current obsession.
So absolutely, let’s talk about it!
First can we just acknowledge how AMAZING it is to be a 13-month-old?
As a general rule of thumb, two things are happening for children around this age:
1) After a year of almost total dependence, they have unlocked the secret to mobility (taking their first steps and walking on their own), and
2) They are exploding into spoken language, growing both their expressive and receptive vocabulary each and every day.
And then there’s the wonderment.
Two weeks ago my family and I visited the Grand Canyon for the first time. And it was just breathtaking. I’d never seen anything remotely like it.
As adults we don’t often have those kinds of experiences anymore. We’ve been there and done that.
But toddlers have mind-blowing experiences every day as they encounter the world for the first time. It’s just magical.
What’s more, consider the amazing conceptual learning here. Toddlers are learning that everything has a name of its own.
And they NEED to know the names. All of them.
So get ready! Because your toddler’s vocabulary is about to grow exponentially - just like little Bonnie’s here, who’s using the occasion of a nature walk to expand her own linguistic database.
This inquisitive little one was shared to TT by rileykayscott.