Vocabulary building is an important part of kids’ overall development. It helps kids learn how to express themselves using words and how to understand others. There is no defined time when a kid should start learning vocabulary. In fact, building vocabulary should not be put off until they start regular schooling. Kids can start building vocabulary from an early age.
But how can kids learn vocabulary?
What types of vocabulary are important for kids?
How many words can a child of a particular age learn?
What are the activities necessary to build the vocabulary of kids?
These questions might arise in the minds of many parents after knowing the importance of vocabulary among kids. So here we are going to address all these questions and help parents to fasten the process of building vocabulary for their kids.
Importance of learning vocabulary
Vocabulary learning at an initial age in kids can prepare them for the future.
According to research, if a child learns multiple new words every day, they can learn 60,000 words until they finish high school. When you build your child’s vocabulary at early age, it helps them “read comprehensively, write meaningfully and listen effectively.”
If children start building vocabulary at an early age, they can have long-term benefits of academic and vocational success, socialization, and proper communication. In the short term, building vocabulary also help kids to have good family relations and friendships. Words often come up in the daily lives of children through video games, TV channels, bedtime stories and movies. If kids learn vocabulary at an early age, they will be able to connect with the immediate environment more effectively.
While studies have proven that the pace of learning vocabulary varies with children, at the age of one or two, kids can learn 5200 root words on average. At 18 months itself, a child’s ability to grasp words can predict the rate and pace of their vocabulary building in the future.
Types of vocabulary
As per the basis of communication, there are four different types of vocabulary that kids should learn. And those are- listening, speaking, writing, and reading. Let us now delve deep into each type of vocabulary to understand how each is important for kids.
Listening
Building vocabulary help kids to listen to what others are saying. It will help them connect with the environment and responds accordingly. It is well known that listening is an important part of communication, and so learning words will help kids enhance their communication skills.
Speaking
Vocabulary that helps kids to speak will allow them to communicate their needs and feelings in better and more meaningful ways. It is common for kids to express their needs through actions. But often, those actions are like riddles that parents have a hard time solving. So learning vocabulary can help both kids and parents to communicate easily.
Reading
Reading is essential for kids of every age. Through reading, they discover a new world and attain the ability to transcend their immediate environment. It also helps them to understand different perspectives of life through different themes or genres of reading. So developing vocabulary used in books will help kids to connect with the books better.
Writing
Writing is the basic skill of communication. If children learn to write, it will not only help in expressing themselves but will also allow them to have a better future in the field of writing. So learning words to write will give kids the means to express their needs while simultaneously learning an important skill for the future.
Activities to build your child’s vocabulary
Now let us understand the activities that can help in building the vocabulary of kids.
1. Interact with kids about things or events that interest them
Learning words by pointing to objects is one of the best ways to build vocabulary because words are associated with objects, events, and feelings. Parents can initiate an interaction with kids about a certain thing, object, or feeling a child is interested in. For example, if a kid is hungry, parents can interact with them by asking what they want to eat fruits, curries, or ice cream. Such interactions that involve associating words with things help children to develop their vocabulary.
2. Give meaning to the conversations you have at home
When children listen to their parents speaking, they are unable to give meaning to the noise they hear. So if parents converse with kids and associate meanings with the language they speak, it can help kids develop vocabulary rapidly. For example, talk to kids about their preschool activities and help them understand each word. Tell them the meanings of words you use in regular conversations at home so that children feel connected with what is being said.
Recommended reading: 5 Tips To Improve Your Child’s English-Speaking Skills
3. Don’t be in a rush to teach words to your kids
To teach words to kids, many parents rush into having back-to-back conversations with kids. But it is not just the amount but the quality of the conversations too that matter in developing the vocabulary of kids. So parents must interact about certain things and events for a reasonable amount of time. For example, parents and kids must have eight to ten conversations per day.
4. Use flashcards
Boost your child’s vocabulary with flashcards. Flashcards are a simple resource that can be used in multiple ways to aid with all forms of learning and development in a fun way. Here’s are some ways to effectively use flashcards and get the most out of the resource.
For Auditory Learning: Children often learn best by hearing things. Using flashcards, you can teach children how to say and correctly pronounce the word on the flashcard. You can repeat the word to make a song or a short jingle out of it and perform it to the child. Then ask the child to repeat this.
For Visual Learner: Children are able to understand and remember things by sight, learns by reading or looking at the flashcard image. When you point to the image on the flashcard and get the child to make a connection between the image and the vocabulary, it helps them remember the new word.
For creative storytelling: Mix and match 5-6 flashcards in random order and then ask children to create a story using the vocabulary on the flashcards. This will help them develop imagination, creativity and critical thinking skills.
5. Interaction through book reading
Children love stories. And when stories are used to build your child’s vocabulary, learning becomes fun. When parents read stories to kids, they can also help them understand the meaning of the words. They can point out pictures in the storybooks and give meanings to them. They can discuss their favorite tales and help them memorize a few words. And the good thing is that this activity of vocabulary building can be done indefinitely.
6. Help them understand things beyond the house
Kids’ knowledge should be expanded beyond the house too. They must be taught about things they see in the world. Take kids for tours and name and explain the features and meanings of the things they see. For example, if you take your kids to the science museum, help them identify objects, their uses, and how it affects real life. Take them for shopping and point out things to teach them what they are called.
Conclusion: Build Your Child’s Vocabulary
Vocabulary learning is not an easy process for kids. It requires kids to pay attention to the environment and develop the ability to grasp things. Sometimes kids are not capable enough to understand what parents are trying to address them. In such cases, control the pace of learning, make children feel comfortable first, and then help them understand the importance of learning vocabulary. Moreover, some kids with disabilities regarding speech, hearing, and writing must be dealt with even more carefully. Take the help of therapists if needed. But kids’ vocabulary learning must always be encouraged.
