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7 effective ways to boost your child’s vocabulary

Team AckoFeb 8, 2024

A strong vocabulary base helps your child nurture the skills of understanding, communication, and reading. Remember, a mother is the first teacher to the child and home is his first school. There are several ways you as a parent can help the little one strengthen his vocabulary. To begin with, provide a simple, child-friendly meaning for any new word. The point here is to make your child comprehend better, and that can only happen using the simplest terms. For example, ‘allow’ means to let, permit, grant permission, approve. Let the synonyms of the word be very simple to understand as well. The very next thing to do is, using the new word in a sentence right away so that your child readily understands its meaning.

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Grandma’s Tip: For instance, tell him that if he eats his breakfast properly without wasting; you will allow him to play his favorite game in the evening. Provide him with opportunities to develop his own examples and keep the new words active within your house. The terrific way to help the little one hear and read new words is through talking and reading with your child.

Conversations and questions about interesting words he comes across in the book is a healthy way of drilling the new words in your child. When the story in the book says, “The prince climbed up the hill,” you can use the picture in the book and ask many questions to build new words into everyday talk.

7 effective ways to boost your child's vocabulary

Consider these simple activities that can help your child expand his vocabulary:

1. Use your everyday words in normal conversations

The words your child hears at home will directly impact the size of his vocabulary. Through everyday conversations and interactions, develop your child’s vocabulary. This is so that he develops the language and literacy skills necessary to succeed in school. Encourage your child to ask for clarification when he does not understand the words and always find time to make him understand their meanings. A recent study about vocabulary has shown that kids’ vocabulary is mainly influenced by those parents who used a good quantity of new words in their everyday life at home.

2. Encourage your child to tell a story

One of the excellent ways to expand reading and vocabulary skills is to read to your child from an early age. You can begin to provide new words and situations to your kid help him create his own story. You can encourage him by asking rhetorical questions during the story in order to introduce new words and concepts. Thereafter, make it a point to use these new words in regular conversations. This would be stimulating him to articulate his ideas, making him look for new words and you can also help him along with new ideas.

3. Continue conversations regularly

Another way to improve your young child’s vocabulary is by simply talking more to him. A study has proven that kids constantly absorb everything they hear. The more they hear you speak, the more you can teach them. In fact, you can start conversations with your baby right around 18 weeks of pregnancy as your little one begins to hear his first sounds. Even in the present day, you are advised to talk to your child as much as possible.

4. Have fun with vocabulary

You can have loads of fun when you are teaching vocabulary to your child. There are innumerable apps available to learn vocabulary through games. Some of the top picks for the best kid’s word games are Apples to Apples Junior, what’s the word, Word Farm, Word Connect, Word Cookies, Taboo junior, Boggle junior, and so on. Undoubtedly, your kid is always trying to snatch your mobile phone to play games; so, you can offer an opportunity to trick him to play these games to enrich his vocabulary.

5. Use words around you

Lead by example. It is not just about how much you say, but also about what words you use that makes a difference to your child’s vocabulary. You can begin from your home to introduce words to your child. Also, visiting new places and exposing him to different ideas can enable your child to build his vocabulary. Let him accompany you when you go to the bank, ATM, the shopping mall, or a restaurant. Visit the local children’s park, museum, and the zoo, and describe all the things seen around and see what new words your child can discover.

6. Handle the mistakes cautiously

It is very natural for kids to mispronounce or misuse new words. So, as a parent, do not reprimand when your child makes such mistakes. Instead, appreciate your child’s attempt for what he got right. You can then politely explain to him the right way to pronounce or use those words. You have to be encouraging every single attempt he makes to enrich his vocabulary.

7. Be calm

According to educational psychologists, exposure to books, to language, explanations for things, all provide kids with opportunities for language growth and success at reading. You must have lots of patience as you repeat words and meanings multiple times before your child grasps the concept. Provide opportunities for your child to learn at his own pace. Take the time and energy required to teach your child and when he begins to enrich his vocabulary skills, you will be delighted to have assisted him to achieve it.

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Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only, based on industry experience and secondary sources. It is not a substitute for professional advice. Please consult a qualified expert for health or insurance-related decisions. Content is subject to change, refer to current policy wordings for specific ACKO details.

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