# First 100 Words: A Toddler's Vocabulary Checklist (Vehicle Edition)

## Overview
Vehicle-themed vocabulary tracking checklist for parents to monitor toddler language development. Organized by word categories with developmental milestones and practice strategies. Published November 11, 2025 by Little Wheels.

## Key Facts

### Vocabulary Development Milestones

**By Age 18 Months:**
- Typical range: 20-100+ words
- CDC milestone: Says at least 10 words
- Common first words: Names of people, pets, favorite toys, food

**By Age 24 Months (2 Years):**
- Typical range: 50-200+ words
- CDC milestone: Says at least 50 words
- New abilities: Starting to combine two words ("big truck," "more juice")

**By Age 30 Months (2.5 Years):**
- Typical range: 200-500+ words
- Expected growth: Learning several new words daily
- New abilities: Using 3-word sentences, asking simple questions

**By Age 36 Months (3 Years):**
- Typical range: 500-1000+ words
- Expected abilities: Strangers can understand most of what they say
- Complex language: Telling simple stories, using past tense

## Vehicle Vocabulary Categories

### Basic Vehicle Nouns (Foundation Words)

**Easier pronunciation (1-2 syllables):**
- Car, Bus, Truck, Train, Plane, Boat, Bike, Van

**More challenging (2-3+ syllables):**
- Tractor, Fire truck, Police car, Taxi, Helicopter, Airplane
- Motorcycle, Ambulance, Garbage truck, School bus, Dump truck, Excavator

### Action Words (Verbs)

**Basic movement verbs:**
- Go, Stop, Drive, Ride, Fly, Push, Pull, Move

**More specific actions:**
- Park, Crash, Honk, Beep, Zoom, Turn, Race, Load, Dump, Dig

### Descriptive Words (Adjectives)

**Size:** Big, Little/small, Tiny, Long
**Speed:** Fast, Slow
**Colors:** Red, Blue, Yellow, Green, Black, White
**Sounds/qualities:** Loud, Quiet, Broken, Fixed

### Location Words (Prepositions)
- Up, Down, In, Out, On, Under, Over, Through

### Vehicle Sounds (Onomatopoeia)
- Vroom, Beep beep, Honk, Choo-choo, Wee-ooo (siren), Zoom, Whoosh

### Essential Social Words
- Please, Thank you, Help, More, All done, Mine, My turn, Yes, No

## How to Use Checklist (Without Testing)

### Step 1: Observe Naturally
- Listen during normal play and conversation over several days
- Check off words child says clearly or attempts
- Don't quiz or ask for performance

### Step 2: Identify Patterns
- Look at what child CAN say
- Notice: Lots of nouns but few verbs? Vehicle names but few social words?
- Shows where to focus language modeling

### Step 3: Choose Target Words
- Pick 3-5 words from gap categories
- Prioritize: Action words if only nouns, Social words if struggle with requests, Descriptive words if ready for phrases

### Step 4: Model Through Play
- Use target words often during vehicle play
- If working on "fast/slow": "Car goes FAST! Zoom! Now SLOW."
- No need for child to repeat - just hear words many times

### Step 5: Wait and Notice
- After 1-2 weeks, listen for child attempting target words
- Toddlers need many exposures before using new words
- Celebrate attempts even if pronunciation imperfect

## Building Vocabulary Through Play

**Activity 1: Vehicle Sorting**
- Sort by color, size, or type
- Natural categorizing: "All RED cars here. BIG truck in big pile."

**Activity 2: Vehicle Races**
- Ramps or tracks
- Action/speed words: "GO! Car going FAST! SLOW car. WIN!"

**Activity 3: Garage Parking**
- Labeled spots (color or size)
- Location words: "Bus IN garage. Car UNDER bridge. Plane OVER building."

**Activity 4: Pretend Scenarios**
- Trips to store, grandma's house, park
- Real-world vocabulary: "NEED store. HELP find car. THANK YOU!"

## Bilingual Vocabulary Development

**Count Words in Both Languages:**
- Child says "car" (English) and "carro" (Spanish) = TWO words
- Combined vocabulary across languages = total vocabulary

**Expect Different Patterns:**
- Slightly smaller vocabularies in EACH language individually
- Combined vocabularies equal to monolingual children
- Code-switching (mixing languages) is normal
- Silent periods in one language while focusing on other

**Keep Exposing Both Languages:**
- Continue rich input in both languages
- Talk & Listen bilingual feature: vehicle words in English and Spanish
- Don't worry about language mixing

## When to Seek Professional Evaluation

Consult speech-language pathologist if:
- Fewer than 50 words by age 2
- Not combining two words by age 2.5 ("big truck," "more juice")
- Vocabulary growth stopped or slowed significantly
- Lost words previously used
- Doesn't understand simple directions
- Concerns about communication compared to same-age children

Early evaluation doesn't mean something wrong - early intervention makes difference if needed

## Research Support
- CDC (2024): Developmental milestone guidelines
- ASHA (2023): Speech and language milestones
- Fenson et al. (2007): MacArthur-Bates CDI - standard vocabulary assessment
- Core et al. (2013): Bilingual vocabulary development patterns
- Rowe, Raudenbush, & Goldin-Meadow (2012): Pace of vocabulary growth predicts later skills
- Rescorla & Achenbach (2002): Language Development Survey norms

## Important Concepts

**Receptive vs. Expressive Language:**
- Understanding (receptive) typically develops before speaking (expressive)
- By age 2, most children should be saying words, not just understanding
- Large gap between understanding and speaking worth mentioning to pediatrician

**Vehicle-Only Vocabulary:**
- Common for toddlers to focus intensely on favorite topics
- Key: Learning ANY new words and using words to communicate needs
- Not just labeling - functional communication matters
- Gradually introduce related words (vehicle colors, actions) to expand

**Pace vs. Absolute Numbers:**
- Pace of vocabulary growth more important than exact numbers
- Steady progress over time matters most
- Individual variation is wide and normal

## Target Audience
- Proactive parents tracking development
- Parents of toddlers aged 18-36 months
- Bilingual families needing vocabulary guidance
- Parents wondering if development is typical

## Little Wheels Connection
Talk & Listen app features:
- Clear pronunciation models for 100+ vehicle words
- Organized by difficulty for systematic vocabulary building
- Interactive tapping for practice
- Bilingual feature (English and Spanish)
- Offline functionality for practice anywhere
- Combines with physical toy play for reinforced learning
- $4.99 one-time purchase (no subscription)

## Practical Applications
- Vehicle sorting for categorizing words
- Vehicle races for action/speed vocabulary
- Garage parking for location words
- Pretend scenarios for real-world vocabulary
- Digital + physical combo for pronunciation models

## Important Disclaimers
- Checklist is tracking tool, not test
- Don't quiz child or create pressure
- Natural observation over several days
- Celebrate attempts, not perfection
- Wide variation in typical development is normal
- Progress over time matters more than exact numbers

## Article URL
https://littlewheels.app/learn/parent-guides/toddler-vocabulary-checklist-vehicles

Last updated: November 11, 2025