When does a word spurt typically occur?

When does a word spurt typically occur?

• A. Around 1.6 years with about 50 words
• B. Around 2.5 years with 100 words
• C. At birth with 10 words
• D. At 3 years with 500 words

Answer: (A)

Word spurt is the rapid surge in vocabulary that tends to show up in late infancy to early toddlerhood. Around 18 months (about 1.6 years) many children have roughly 50 words and begin acquiring new words much more quickly, which is precisely when this burst is observed. So the timing and the approximate word count in this option fit the common pattern: the initial explosion in vocabulary happens around the 18–20 month mark, with about 50 words by then. Other timings aren’t as consistent with how this early burst typically unfolds: birth with 10 words would be far too early, 2.5 years with 100 words underestimates the rapid growth that often happens soon after the burst, and 3 years with 500 words reflects a later stage after the initial spurt.

Word spurt is the rapid surge in vocabulary that tends to show up in late infancy to early toddlerhood. Around 18 months (about 1.6 years) many children have roughly 50 words and begin acquiring new words much more quickly, which is precisely when this burst is observed. So the timing and the approximate word count in this option fit the common pattern: the initial explosion in vocabulary happens around the 18–20 month mark, with about 50 words by then. Other timings aren’t as consistent with how this early burst typically unfolds: birth with 10 words would be far too early, 2.5 years with 100 words underestimates the rapid growth that often happens soon after the burst, and 3 years with 500 words reflects a later stage after the initial spurt.