Learning Language One Noun at a Time

I'm sure if you have a toddler you can attest to fact that these wee ones ask the same question over and over. So my daughter has 3 questions that she asks everyone she meets/interacts with.

I brought her to my school (my work) the other day for our annual field day. As she met people in the hall she would ask, "What's that (pointing to some object)?" or "What are you doing?" or "Where's your home?"

I started to think more about these questions...here's my take on each one:


What's that?
She's been asking think question since she first started stringing a couple words together (at about 12-13 months). This question is handy- this is how she learns her nouns. She asks what something is and we tell her. This question also helps her to create a meaningful interaction with someone- if she asks a questions, she's going to (hopefully) get a response. And my social daughter loves this.

What are you doing?
This question has many variations: What are your toes doing? What is the man doing? What are the kids doing? I especially love this question. This is how she's learning new verbs all the time! Every time she asks this questions she learns types of verbs. Momma is wiggling her toes.The man is working. The kids are splashing in the water.

What I love about these two questions is that she asks them ALL the time ALL day long. It's so interesting to see how she's developing word knowledge day by day. And how her questioning patterns are helping her learn words and the relationships between words.

Where's your home?
My daughter started asking the question over the past month. I'm not sure why she started asking this question. But I think she realized that people live in different places, that she lives in Oakland. Maybe it's because she knows that some of her cousins live nearby and some live in DC or Chicago. It's interesting because it this question has a lot to do identity and the essence of who someone is- where your home? Where do you belong? People are never really sure how to answer this question. I love to hear how people respond.

I also think my toddler loves to ask questions because she's extremely social. Questions help her to interact with the people in her world- her most favorite thing!

While my daughter may annoy some with her very repetitive questions- I marvel at how she chooses her questions careful to get at the essential things in language and life- where, what, how...I'm sure why will be next in her line of questioning!


What questions have your kids ask over and over?

Hope you're having a great week!