At what age do children typically begin talking?

Children typically begin talking around 11 to 18 months of age. During this period, they often say their first words and start to develop simple vocabulary. This phase marks a significant milestone in language development, where children begin to use words purposefully to communicate their needs and interact with their caregivers. By this age, infants have usually progressed through earlier stages of communication, such as cooing and babbling, and are now able to form basic words and phrases.

The stages preceding this timeframe usually involve non-verbal communication, such as gestures and sounds, while later ages involve more complex speech development, which is why the other age ranges do not align as closely with the onset of talking. It's important to note that children develop at their own pace, but 11 to 18 months is a commonly accepted range for the beginning of verbal communication.