Abstract
The aim of this study was to develop a core vocabulary list for toddlers. Naturally occurring (<emph type="2">i.e.</emph>, unprompted) vocabulary was collected for 50 toddlers, aged from 24 to 36 months, enrolled in five different preschools, during two different activities (play within interest centres and snack time). Results revealed that all 50 children used nine common words across both routines, and that the list contained pronouns, verbs, prepositions and demonstratives. Words representing different pragmatic functions (<emph type="2">e.g.</emph>, requesting, affirming, negating) were also included. Nouns were absent from the list. These data are consistent with similar studies into the core vocabularies of adults, adolescents, and preschoolers.