Early Vocabulary and Concepts

So many, many times I meet a parent for a first time who is so excited to tell me that their two-year old child is reciting the alphabet, can count to twenty, and is naming colors. Though I smile at the pride on this parent's face, I cringe inside. Yes, it is important that young children know these early concepts, but if they know these concepts without other basic functional communication vocabulary, I worry. 

For a young 2-3 year old child, it is important to expose (make available) your child to the alphabet, colors, and numbers - I do not refute this. However, these are truly abstract words and concepts.  For early word users, we need young children to use functional and meaningful to them words - in order that they can best be understood by adults around them, and to get their needs and wants met.