The First100 blog
Language development, parenting, and the science of how kids learn words.
language science
When Do Babies Start Talking? A Parent's Guide to First Words and Milestones
Most babies say their first word around 12 months, but the range is wide and normal. Here is the full talking timeline from babbling to first words to the vocabulary explosion, drawn from the WHO, the UK's NHS, and child-development experts worldwide.
per language
Somali Alphabet for Kids
A printable Somali alphabet chart with all 22 letters, how the tricky sounds (c, x, dh, kh, q) actually work, and how to use it with your toddler.
parenting
How to Teach Your Kids Somali
A practical guide for heritage parents — five low-effort daily habits and a realistic weekly routine that fit a working parent's life.
per language
Best Apps to Learn Somali for Kids
Duolingo has no Somali course — here's an honest look at what actually exists for teaching toddlers Somali, including First 100 Somali.
per language
Somali Books, Songs & Stories for Kids
A honest guide to Somali children's books, songs, and nursery rhymes — what genuinely exists, where to find it, and how to use it with your toddler.
per language
First Somali Words for Kids
Around 50 first Somali words for toddlers, grouped by theme — family, food, animals, body, colors, and numbers — each with a simple pronunciation guide.
parenting
Raising a Bilingual Somali Child
A realistic guide for diaspora parents — what the research says, which language frameworks fit a real household, and what to do when your kid resists.
language science
Is Somali Hard to Learn?
Somali is hard for adults because of its sounds — but toddlers are in a different window entirely, and that changes everything.
per language
Somali Language Classes for Kids
A practical guide to finding Somali language classes for kids — dugsi, community schools, and online options — plus how to make them stick.
per language
Sida Loo Baro Af-Soomaali Carruurta
Tilmaamo la taaban karo oo loogu talagalay waalidiinta raba in ay af-Soomaali u barayaan ilmahooda guriga.
per language
Somali Culture for Kids
Practical, everyday ways to bring Somali culture into your toddler's life — food, names, holidays, and stories, with language woven through all of it.
app updates
Welcome to the First 100 blog
A short note about what this blog will be: writing about language, parenting, and how kids learn their first words.