At what age should a child typically be able to say a few words?

A child typically begins to say a few words around the age of 12 months. This developmental milestone is part of the communication and language skills that evolve as children grow. At this age, most children can use simple words like "mama" or "dada," and they start to understand and respond to simple verbal commands as well. This is a critical phase where children are not only learning to express their needs but also developing their cognitive skills associated with language comprehension.

Prior to 12 months, children may coo, babble, and make various sounds, but the production of specific words usually emerges around this time, highlighting a milestone in their overall development. By 18 months, many children expand their vocabulary to several words and may even start to combine them into simple phrases.