Early Learning Project
Tip Sheet
Some children start kindergarten with double the vocabulary of others. Knowing many words and understanding them are important in developing thinking skills and in getting ready to read. Here are some ways to add to your child's school readiness with the gift of new words. It's never too early to start!
Reading
Read often to your child, both old favorites and new books from the library. Comment on new words you find in books or wherever you come across them.- Use place words such as up, down, right, left. Talk about opposites: in and out, up and down, on or off, hot or cold, fast or slow.
- Use synonyms—words that mean the same thing. If your child talks about the time after dinner, respond using the word "evening."
- Pick out a new word, and tell your child what it means. Use it in a clear context frequently, even over-using it for fun! If the day's word is "excellent," use it for anything that day that's good. The next day, find another to have fun with—like "magnificent."
- Carry a small book or two in your car, purse, or backpack to use during those "waiting times."
- Visit your library for books on subjects that interest your child. Many children love books about animals or machines, and these books can introduce new words.
Games
Play simple word games.- Try a yes-no game to teach about questions. "Are you purple?" "Can a tree talk?" Let her try asking you questions.
- Play a mystery game. Give clues and let your child guess. "It's yellow. We buy it at the grocery store. You throw away the outside and eat the inside." Add clues until she guesses "banana." "She comes to our apartment every day. She usually leaves something. She wears a uniform." He guesses "mail carrier." Try reading a definition from a child's dictionary and letting him guess the word. Turn it around. "Is a vehicle a person, a building, or a car?"
- Play with categories, differences, and similarities. "How is a banana different from an apple and an orange? How are they alike?"
- Sing simple songs and recite nursery rhymes together.
- Enter into your child's games. Have fun playing house, with her playing the mommy or your son playing the daddy. Talk about what different members of the family do.
Learn more about increasing your child's vocabulary at these Web sites:
- Teach Your Kids New Words
http://www.pbs.org/parents/lions/activities/literacy_tips.html - Activities to Encourage Speech and Language Development
http://www.asha.org/public/speech/development/Parent-Stim-Activities.htm - Building Children's Background Knowledge and Thinking Skills
http://www2.ed.gov/teachers/how/early/teachingouryoungest/
page_pg11.html#background - Beginning with Books
http://www.education.wisc.edu/ccbc/books - Talking and Books: Videos Available in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Mandarin, and Korean
http://www.walearning.com - IEL Interactive Chat:
From Chewing to Choosing: Bonding Books and Children
http://illinoisearlylearning.org/chat/hearne/index.htm - IEL Interactive Chat:
Encouraging Literacy Development in Infants and Toddlers
http://illinoisearlylearning.org/chat/glick/index.htm
Disclaimer
The opinions, resources, and referrals provided on the IEL Web site are intended for informational purposes only and are not intended to take the place of medical or legal advice, or of other appropriate services. We encourage you to seek direct local assistance from a qualified professional if necessary before taking action.
The content of the IEL Web site does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Illinois Early Learning Project, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, or the Illinois State Board of Education; nor does the mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the Illinois Early Learning Project, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, or the Illinois State Board of Education.