Which age is typically associated with a child's first words?

The age typically associated with a child's first words is around 12 months. At this stage, children generally start to produce their first meaningful sounds, often resembling simple words like "mama" or "dada." This milestone is crucial in child development as it signifies the beginning of language acquisition, where a child starts to use verbal communication to express themselves and interact with others.

By 12 months, many children also understand more words than they can say, indicating that they are beginning to grasp the connection between sounds and their meanings. This period is characterized by rapid cognitive development, where the foundation for further verbal skills is laid.

Earlier milestones, such as at 6 months, typically include cooing and babbling, which do not constitute actual words, while later milestones, such as at 24 months or 36 months, involve the expansion of vocabulary and the formation of simple sentences. Hence, these options do not align with the typical age when children produce their first words.