Why is a toddler's productive vocabulary smaller than their receptive vocabulary?

Understanding Toddler's Vocabulary Development

When it comes to a child's language acquisition, they first start by listening, so they develop their receptive vocabulary first. As they grow older and continue to learn the language, they start using words to communicate their thoughts and feelings, which means they are using their productive vocabulary. Children have a larger receptive vocabulary than productive vocabulary because they can understand more words than they can say.

Difference Between Receptive and Productive Vocabulary

It is essential to remember that receptive vocabulary refers to the words that the toddler can understand but might not be able to say, while productive vocabulary refers to the words that the toddler can use in daily conversations. In simpler terms, productive vocabulary is the words that a toddler can say, while receptive vocabulary is the words they understand when they hear them.

Development of Productive Vocabulary

A toddler's productive vocabulary tends to be smaller than their receptive vocabulary because it is easier for them to understand words than it is to say them. However, as toddlers learn and develop their language, their productive vocabulary gradually increases and becomes larger than their receptive vocabulary.