At what age do kids usually start talking?

@Maeica (169)
New Zealand
November 28, 2006 6:29pm CST
My son is 16 months and he has a few words already, like "Mum", "Dad", "Cat", "Keys" and understands heaps more. But my friend's daughter is two and a half and doesn't really talk yet. Is that normal? My friend doesn't talk to her daughter much and we talk to our son a lot. Do kids speak later if they're traumitised at a young age or neglected? Do they talk later if they walk earlier (and vice versa)? Our son has only just started walking.
8 responses
• United States
29 Nov 06
It just depends on the individual kid. I think a lot of it has to do with how shy the kid feels. I worked in a daycare for a few years, and some kids would start talking before leaving the 1 year old room, others would just be saying a few words before heading off to the 3 year old room. I think it's about the same as the kid learning to walk. If they haven't started by 3 or 4, then i'd worry.
@Maeica (169)
• New Zealand
5 Dec 06
Interesting
@delina123 (2453)
• Canada
29 Nov 06
My son is now 14 months but at the age of 9 months his first word was ( whats that) and his second word was MUM and that was at 9 months to
@Maeica (169)
• New Zealand
29 Nov 06
So do you think our boys are advanced, or my friend's girl has problems?
@zgb_0001 (1381)
• Pakistan
29 Nov 06
My daughter is 12 months,and already start talking now.
@sri_1211 (407)
• India
29 Nov 06
generally in 15-18 months where kids began 2 talk.
• United States
5 Dec 06
my son started makeing sounds that ment somthing around 12 months real words at about 18 months, and at 3 years just will not shut up
8 Jan 07
All kids are different. My oldest son was talking in complete sentences at a yr old. He is now 4 and can understand really complex things, such as how an engine works! My youngest son is 2 and he's finally starting to talk, but not in complete sentences. I think my oldest son talks too much for my youngest.
• United States
29 Nov 06
My daughter is 2 and a half also. Some things she says comes out clear but most of the time anyone other than me can't understand her. She started walking on her own on her first birthday, But her teeth were slower coming in. I belive that is why she had a more difficult time at it. But even though she was slow on the talking side of it she advanced in her mental capibilities. All kids do things on their own time, thats what my mom told me anyways.
• United States
29 Nov 06
i do not think their is a certain age kids should talk at every kid develops differently but if a child dont talk by 3 i would see a doctor because something could be wrong my daughter started to talk at 18 months.