What is a characteristic of the One-word Sentence or Holophrase Stage?

During the One-word Sentence or Holophrase Stage, children primarily communicate their thoughts and ideas using single words. This developmental phase typically occurs around 12 to 18 months of age, where each word can represent a complete idea or request, such as using the word "milk" to indicate wants or needs related to milk. This stage reflects an important part of language acquisition, demonstrating that children can convey meaning despite using a singular word, effectively serving as a placeholder for larger concepts or sentences.

The focus during this stage is on a child's growing understanding of language and their ability to use it functionally, even though their vocabulary may be quite limited. This single-word usage allows them to express their desires, emotions, and observations efficiently, forming the foundation for more complex sentence structures in later stages of speech development.