Counting Words Isn’t as Simple as It Sounds
It’s time for Oliver’s annual early intervention evaluation, and one of the most common questions I hear from therapists and pediatricians is:
“How many words can he say now?”
At first, it sounds like an easy question. But for me, it’s not.
I know Oliver says many words, but I’ve never actually counted them. When someone asks, I find myself scrambling, mentally listing the words he says, jotting them down, then trying to remember the ones he signs or says in Mandarin.
That’s why this little tool was born.
The Baby Words Counter is a small personal project, a simple prototype I created to make my life a little easier. It doesn’t solve every problem, but it helps me count Oliver’s words more easily.
You can check off words your child says, add your own (including signs or words in any language), and instantly see the total count. No data is saved; it’s just a quick, private way to gather information you can share with your child’s team.
It’s not perfect. There’s still plenty of room for improvement. My hope is that this checklist will continue to evolve into something more functional, accessible, and parent-friendly over time. I’d love to collaborate with others to co-create and improve this tool so it becomes truly useful for families everywhere.
For now, it serves its purpose, and it’s a small step toward making word tracking a little less stressful.
Stay tuned! I plan to release a few educational resources soon with practical tips on how parents can track and celebrate their child’s growing communication skills.
For now, you can check the tool here: https://hwyang893-star.github.io/baby-words-counter/
If you try it, I’d love to hear your thoughts! What features would make it more helpful for you? Maybe a progress tracker, printable summary, or bilingual options? Your feedback will help shape the next version so it supports more families in meaningful ways.
Hsiu-Wen Yang 