Ming from Agents of Speech explains why nouns are usually the first words to teach a non-verbal child: when you label an object while you both look at it, the child connects the word to the thing. Verbs work too, and videos with repeated labeling help because they hold attention.
Linguistic when they talk about what object label does the parent use? In terms of teaching nonverbal children, the very first thing that we usually teach are nouns, meaning the name of objects, right? Once you get their attention and you're looking at the same thing, and then you add a noun and I will add a little bit. Like you can also do verbs. I tend to lean on verbs a little bit more. But at the same time, doing nouns are totally acceptable as well. So once you can get your child's interest and you're both looking at it when you say the word, there's a much higher chance that your child will pair it together. Okay. And that's why they learn so many words from YouTube, because they get their attention. The video shows something that's funny, interactive, and engaging, and then they say the word, that's a high chance they can alert that thing. Okay.
