The Most Important Words to Teach Your Child (SLPs Call Them 'Core Words')

Think about the last few things you said. "Can you help me?" "I want that." "Let's go." "More" "Stop."

Those words weren't random. You use them because they work in almost any situation and for almost any need. Those words are called core words, and they're the foundation of communication.

Core words are the small versatile words that make up the majority of what we say. Research on how communication develops shows that core words account for anywhere from 60 to 80 percent of everything we say on a daily basis. Words like more, go, stop, help, want, no, mine, up, done, like, and, I, you, me, it, here, that. Simple. Short. Endlessly useful. Whether your child is just starting to talk or already putting sentences together, these are the words worth knowing.

What makes core words so powerful is their flexibility. A child who learns the word more can use it at the snack table, at the playground, in the bathtub, and during story time. The word works everywhere. The word go shows up during a game, in the car, at the park, and when they are done with dinner and ready to leave the table. One word, countless situations. 

What About the Other Words?

The rest of our vocabulary is made up of what are called fringe words. These are typically nouns like dog, car, cup, banana, grandma, school. They are meaningful and important, but they work best in specific contexts. "Dog" is useful when there's a dog around. "Banana" gets the job done at breakfast. But neither one helps your child express what they need when they're frustrated, excited, or asking for help in the middle of a completely unrelated situation.

Fringe words fill in the details. Core words carry the conversation.

Why Do We Default to Teaching Nouns?

Most of us naturally start teaching children nouns first. We point and name. "That's a dog." "Here's your cup." "Look, a bird." This makes complete sense; nouns are concrete, easy to point to, and something your child can see, hear, or touch.

But verbs, pronouns, and adjectives often get skipped; words like want, more, help, go, stop, mine, my, you, big, all done. Many of these fall in the core word category, and they are just as important — arguably more so — when it comes to giving your child the ability to express themselves in any situation.

Think about what a child can do with the word want compared to the word banana. Yes, "banana" gets them breakfast. But "want" can get them breakfast, their favorite toy, a hug, and five more minutes.

Meet Them Where They Are

One of the most effective things you can do is focus on the words that match where your child is right now. For a child at the first words stage, something like more gives them immediate power. They say it, something happens. That moment of cause and effect is what keeps a child motivated to learn more words and use them. And as they grow, core words grow with them. "More" becomes "more juice." "Want" becomes "want that." Same words, bigger ideas.

You don't need to teach them every word at once, just the right ones. The best part? Core words fit naturally into the routines you're already doing. At snack time, instead of just handing them another cracker, pause and say "more?" or "want?" They may not repeat it right away and that's fine. Every time they hear it in a real moment, it's building. Eventually, they'll be the one asking.

Why Early Wins in Communication Matter

When a child learns early that their words work, they want to use them more. That motivation is one of the most powerful forces in language development and it grows on its own, because meaningful words get practiced constantly, in real moments, not just during "learning time."

Teaching core words is not about drilling flashcards or formal lessons. It's about the snack you're already making, the bath you're already giving, the book you're already reading. Weaving in core words during those moments is exactly the kind of everyday learning that sticks and it's the thinking behind everything we do at Lil' Bits of Language. It's what our book Stop, Go, More is built around. If you want a simple, everyday way to bring core words into your child's routine, start here.

Need a list of core words to get started? Follow us on Instagram @lilbitslanguage for core word lists, tips, and everyday ideas for building language.