LINCOLN UNIVERSITY BABYLAB
Toddler Communicative Development Inventory
- A UK adaptation of the MacArthur Toddler CDI* Your name:
Child's name:
Birth date of child:
Male/female:
Today's date:
Dear Parent,
The following is a list of words that are typical in children's vocabularies.
For words that your child understands but does not yet say, place a mark in the first
column, labelled "U".
Crocodile
U
z
U/S
{
For words that your child understands and also says, place a mark in the second
column, labelled"U/S".
Crocodile
U
{
U/S
z
If your child uses a different pronunciation of a word (e.g., 'bickie' for biscuit, or
'telly' for television) - mark the word anyway.
Occasionally we list two alternative forms - please underline the one your child
understands and/or produces.
pool/pond
U
{
U/S
z
Please fill in the whole circle exactly as shown above, do not just tick or partly fill the
Circle:
Correct marking z
incorrect markings } 9.
This inventory is a comprehensive "catalogue" of words that are used by many different
children across a wide age range, so do not worry if your child knows only a few of them
at the moment!
If you have any additional comments or information that you think we should consider,
please add these at the end of this inventory.
Thank you very much!
*This Toddler CDI was adapted by Kerstin Meints and Kristina Fletcher, University of Lincoln, UK (version
2001). For information and original copies of the MacArthur CDI, please contact the Developmental
Psychology Lab, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92182, USA.
Animal sounds
1
U
{
{
{
{
baa baa
choo choo
cockadoodledoo
grr
US
{
{
{
{
U
{
{
{
{
meow
moo
ouch
quack
US
{
{
{
{
uh oh
vroom
woof
yum
U
{
{
{
{
US
{
{
{
{
U
US
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
Animals
alligator
animal
ant
bear
bee
bird
bug
bunny / rabbit
butterfly
cat
chicken
cockerel
cow
deer
dog
U
US
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
donkey
duck
elephant
fish
frog
giraffe
goose
hen
horse
kitten
lamb
lion
monkey
moose
mouse
U
US
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
U
US
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
owl
penguin
pig
pony
puppy
sheep
spider
squirrel
tiger
turkey
turtle
wolf
zebra
Vehicles
aeroplane / plane
bicycle / bike
boat
bus
car
U
US
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
fire engine
helicopter
lorry / truck
motorbike
pushchair
sleigh
tractor
train
tricycle
U
US
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
Toys
U
US
ball
balloon
bat
block / brick
book
bubble
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
chalk
{
{
crayon
doll
game
pen
pencil
play
dough
present
U
US
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
puzzle
story
teddy bear
toy
U
US
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
2
Food and Drink
apple
banana
beans
biscuit
bread
butter
cake
carrot
cereal
cheese
chewing gum / bubble
gum
chicken
chips
chocolate
chocolate biscuit
coffee
coke
cornflakes
cracker
crisps
doughnut
drink
egg
U
US
U
US
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
fish
food
grapes
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
pizza
plum
pop
green beans
hamburger / burger
ice
ice cream
ice lolly
jam
jelly
juice
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
lollipop / lolly
meat
melon
milk
muffin / bun
nuts
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
orange
pancake
pasta / spaghetti
peanut butter
peas
pickle
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
soup
strawberry
sweets
tea
toast
tomato sauce /
ketchup
tuna
vanilla
vitamins
water
yoghurt
{
{
{
{
{
{
popcorn
potato
pudding
pumpkin
raisin
salt
sandwich
sauce
U
US
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
Clothes
U
US
belt
bib
{
{
{
{
boot (s)
button
coat
dress
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
glasses /
specs
gloves
hat
jacket
{
{
jeans
jumper /
sweater
mittens
nappy
necklace
pants /
underpants
pyjamas
{
{
{
{
{
{
raincoat
scarf
shirt
U
US
U
US
{
{
{
{
shoe
shorts
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
slipper
sock
tights
trainers
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
trousers
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
zip
{
{
U
US
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
Body Parts
ankle
arm
back
belly button / tummy button
U
US
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
eye
face
foot
finger
U
US
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
lips
mouth
neck
nose
3
bottom*
cheek
chin
ear
elbow
* or word used by your family
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
hair
hand
head
knee
leg
{
{
{
{
{
shoulder
tooth
toe
tongue
tummy
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
Furniture and Rooms
U
US
U
US
cellar
bathroom
bathtub / bath
bed
bedroom
bench
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
drawer
dryer
garage
high chair
kitchen
living room / lounge /
dining room
oven / cooker
play pen
porch
potty
chair
cot
cupboard
dining room
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
door
{
{
refrigerator / fridge
{
{
U
US
rocking chair
room
shower
sink
sofa / settee
stairs
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
stove
table
TV / television / telly
washing machine /
washer
window
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
Household items
U
US
bin
blanket
{
{
{
{
bottle
box
bowl
broom
brush
bucket
camera
can / tin
clock
comb
cup
dish
dummy
fork
glass
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
hammer
hoover /
vacuum
jar
keys
knife
lamp
light
medicine
money
mop
nail
napkin
paper
penny
picture
pillow
plant
U
US
U
US
{
{
{
{
plate
purse
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
radio
rubbish
scissors
sellotape
soap
spoon
stair gate
tape
telephone / phone
tissue
toothbrush
towel
tray
watch
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
4
Outside
U
US
backyard
cloud
flag
flower
garden
grass
hose-pipe
ladder
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
lawn mower
moon
path
{
{
{
{
{
{
U
US
U
US
pond
rain
road
rock / stone
roof
sandpit
shovel / spade
sky
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
slide
snow
snowman
{
{
{
{
{
{
star
stick
street
sun
swing
tree
water
wheelbarro
w
wind
U
US
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
U
US
Places to go
beach
{
{
camping
{
{
church *
{
{
circus
{
{
countryside
{
{
farm
{
{
house
{
{
home
{
{
* or word used by your family
U
US
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
cinema / pictures
outside
park
party
petrol station
picnic
playground
school
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
seaside
shop
town
woods
work
zoo
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
U
US
People
aunt
baby
babysitter
babysitter’s name
boy
U
US
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
brother
{ {
child
{ {
child’s own name
{ {
clown
{ {
daddy / dad*
{ {
* or word used by your family
doctor
fireman
friend
girl
grandma / nanna /
granny*
granddad*
lady
man
mummy / mum*
nurse
U
US
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
people
person
pet’s name
police
postman
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
sister
teacher
uncle
woman
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
U
US
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
Games and Routines
bath
breakfast
bye bye
call (on phone)
dinner
gonna get you!
U
US
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
lunch
nap / sleep
night night
no
pat-a-cake
peekaboo
U
US
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
snack
so big!
tea
thank you
this little piggy
turn around
5
{
{
{
go potty
hi
hello
{
{
{
{
{
{
please
shh / hush
shopping
{
{
{
{
yes
{
Action words
U
US
U
US
U
US
bite
blow
break
bring
build
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
drink
drive
drop
dry
dump
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
hurry
jump
kick
kiss
knock
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
U
US
U
US
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
swim
swing
take
talk
taste
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
tear
tell
think
throw
tickle
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
ride
rip
run
say
scratc
h
see
shake
share
show
shut /
close
sing
sit
skate
sleep
slide
smile
spill
splash
bump
buy
call
carry
catch
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
eat
fall
feed
find
finish
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
know
lick
like
listen
look
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
chase
clap
clean
climb
close
cook
cover
cuddl
e
cry
cut
dance
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
fit
fix
get
give
go
hate
have
hear
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
love
make
open
paint
pick
play
pour
pretend
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
touch
wait
wake
walk
wash
watch
wipe
wish
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
help
hide
hit
{
{
{
{
{
{
pull
push
put
{
{
{
{
{
{
stand
stay
stop
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
sweep
{
{
work
write
cuddl
e
smell
draw
{
{
hold
{
{
read
{ {
Descriptive words
all gone
angry
asleep
awake
bad
better
big
black
blue
broken
brown
careful
clean
cold
cute
dark
U
US
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
full
gentle
good
green
happy
hard
heavy
high
hot
hungry
hurt
last
little
long
loud
nasty
U
US
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
poor
pretty
quiet
red
sad
scared
sick
sleepy
slow
small
soft
sticky
stuck
thirsty
tiny
tired
U
US
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
6
{
{
{
{
{
{
dirty
dry
empty
fast
fine
first
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
naughty
new
nice
noisy
old
orange
{
{
{
{
{
wet
white
windy
yellow
yucky
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
U
US
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
Time
U
US
{
{
{
{
after
before
day
later
{
{
{
{
morning
night
now
time
U
US
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
today
tomorrow
tonight
yesterday
Pronouns
he
her
hers
him
his
I
it
U
US
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
me
mine
my
myself
our
she
that
U
US
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
their
them
these
they
this
those
us
U
US
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
U
US
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
U
US
{
{
we
you
your
yourself
Question words
how
what
U
US
{
{
{
{
when
where
U
US
{
{
{
{
which
who
U
US
{
{
{
{
why
Prepositions / Adverbs
about
above
around
at
away
back
behind
beside
by
U
US
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
down
for
here
inside
into
next to
of
off
on
U
US
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
on top of
out
over
there
to
under
up
with
between
U
US
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
U
US
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
Quantifiers / Others
a
all
a lot
an
another
any
U
US
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
each
every
more
much
not
none
U
US
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
other
same
some
the
too
7
8
Helping verbs
am
are
be
can
could
did /did ya
do
U
US
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
does
don’t
gonna / going to
hafta / have to
is
lemme / let me
gotta / got to
U
US
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
need / need to
try / try to
wanna / want to
was
were
will
would
U
US
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
Connecting words
and
because
U
US
{
{
{
{
but
if
U
US
{
{
{
{
so
then
U
US
{
{
{
{
How Children Use Words
Not yet
Sometimes
Often
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
Not
Yet
Sometimes
Often
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
1. Does your child ever talk about past events or people who are
not present? For example, a child who saw a parade last week
might later say parade, clown, or band.
2. Does your child ever talk about something that’s going to
happen in the future, for example, saying “choo choo” or
“aeroplane” before you leave the house for a trip, or saying
“swing” when you are going to the park?
3. Does your child talk about objects that are not present such
as asking about a missing or absent toy, referring to a pet out of
view, or asking about someone not present?
4. Does your child understand if you ask for something that is
not in the room? For example, would your child go to the
bedroom to get a teddy bear when you say “Where’s the bear?”
5. Does your child ever pick up or point to an object and name
an absent person to whom the object belongs? For example, a
child might point to mummy’s shoe and say “mummy”.
Sentences And Grammar
Word Endings / Part 1:
1. To talk about more than one thing, we add an “s” to many
words. Examples include cars (for more than one car), shoes,
dogs, and keys. Has your child begun to do this?
2. To talk about ownership, we add an “’s”, for example, daddy’s
key, kitty’s dish, and baby’s bottle. Has your child begun to do
this?
3. To talk about activities, we sometimes add “ing” to verbs.
Examples include looking, sucking, and crying. Has your child
begun to do this?
4. To talk about things that happened in the past, we often add
“ed” to the verb. Examples include kissed, opened and pushed.
Has your child begun to do this?
9
Word Forms
Following are some words children learn.
Please mark any of these words that your child uses.
Nouns
children
feet
{
{
men
mice
{
{
teeth
{
Verbs
ate
blew
bought
broke
came
drank
drove
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
fell
flew
got
had
heard
held
lost
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
made
ran
sat
saw
took
went
{
{
{
{
{
{
Word Endings / Part 2:
Young children often place the wrong endings on words. For example, a child might say
“Auntie goed home.” Mistakes like this are often a sign of progress in language. In the
following lists, please mark all the mistakes of this kind you have heard your child say
recently.
Nouns
blockses
childrens
childs
feets
foots
{
{
{
{
{
mans
mens
mices
mouses
shoeses
{
{
{
{
{
sockses
teeths
toeses
tooths
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
drinked
eated
falled
flied
getted
goed
gotted
haved
heared
holded
losed
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
losted
maked
ranned
runned
seed
satted
taked
wented
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
Verbs
ated
blewed
blowed
bringed
buyed
breaked
broked
camed
comed
doed
dranked
10
Has your child begun to combine words yet,
such as “nother cracker”, or “doggie bite?”
{
{
Not Yet
{
Sometimes
Often
If you answered not yet, please stop here.
If you answered sometimes or often, please continue.
Examples: Please list three of the longest sentences you have heard your child say
recently.
1.
2.
3.
Complexity
In each of the following pairs, please mark the one that sounds MOST like the way your
child talks right now. If your child is saying sentences even longer or more complicated
than the two provided, just pick the second one.
1. Two shoe.
Two shoes.
2. Two foot.
Two feet.
3. Daddy car.
Daddy’s car.
4. (Talking about
something
happening right
now.)
Kitty sleep.
Kitty sleeping.
5. (Talking about
something
happening right
now)
I make tower.
I making tower.
6.
Baby crying.
Baby is crying.
7.
You fix it?
Can you fix it?
8.
Read me story, mummy.
Read me a story,
mummy.
{
{
{
{
{
{
14. (Talking about
something that already
happened.)
I fall down.
I fell down.
{
{
15. More cookie!
More cookies!
{
{
16. These my tooth.
These my teeth.
17. Baby blanket.
Baby’s blanket.
{
{
{
{
27. (Talking about
something that already
happened.)
Daddy pick me up.
Daddy picked me up.
28. (Talking about
something that already
happened.)
Kitty go away.
Kitty went away.
{
{
30. That my truck.
That’s my truck.
{
{
{
{
{
{
31. Baby want eat.
Baby want to eat.
{
{
32. Lookit me!
Lookit me dancing.
{
{
{
{
{
{
29. Doggie table.
Doggie on table.
{
{
18. (Talking about
something that already
happened)
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
Doggie kiss me.
Doggie kissed me.
19. Coffee hot.
That coffee hot.
20. I no do it.
I can’t do it.
21. I like read stories.
I like to read stories.
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
33. Lookit!
Lookit what I got!
34. Where’s my dolly?
Where’s my dolly
name Sam?
11
9.
No wash dolly.
Don’t wash dolly.
{
{
10. Want more juice.
Want juice in there.
{
{
11. There a kitty.
There’s a kitty.
{
{
12. Go bye-bye.
Wanna go bye-bye.
{
{
{
{
13. Where mummy go?
Where did mummy
go?
22. Don’t read book.
Don’t want you read
that book.
23. Turn on light.
Turn on the light so I
can see.
24. I want that.
I want that one you got.
{
{
25. Want cookies.
Want cookies and milk.
{
{
{
{
26. Cookie mummy.
Cookie for mummy.
{
{
{
{
35. We made this.
Me and Paul made
this.
36. I sing song.
I sing song for you.
{
{
37. Baby crying.
Baby crying ‘cos
she’s sad.
{
{
{
{
If you have any additional comments please write them here:
Please can you also answer the following questions:
Is this your only child?
If you have other children please can you indicate the position of this child in
relation to his / her siblings?
Does your child attend a nursery?
Full time or part time?
For how many months or years has your child attended a nursery?
Thank you very much!
12