At what age do children typically begin to speak their first words?

The typical age range for children to begin speaking their first recognizable words is between 10 to 15 months. During this developmental stage, children move from babbling and cooing to using single words that carry meaning, such as "mama" or "dada." This transition marks a significant milestone in language development, showing that children are beginning to understand the connection between sounds and their meanings.

While some children may start experimenting with sounds before 10 months, the formation of genuine words, which can be consistently recognized and understood by adults, typically emerges in the timeframe of 10 to 15 months. This phase is crucial as it sets the foundation for further language acquisition and communication skills, which will continue to develop rapidly in the following years.