Enhance your child's vocabulary with proven expert methods
These strategies will build a strong vocabulary foundation for your child:
1. Read Regularly
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Diverse Reading Material: Encourage reading a variety of books, including fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and informational texts.
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Daily Reading Routine: Set aside dedicated time each day for reading together.
2. Interactive Storytelling
- Ask Questions: Engage your child by asking questions about the story to enhance comprehension and retention.
- Encourage Predictions: Ask your child to predict what will happen next to stimulate critical thinking and vocabulary use.
3. Word Games and Activities
- Scrabble and Boggle: Play word games that challenge your child to form and recognise new words.
- Crossword Puzzles: Use age-appropriate crossword puzzles to build vocabulary and spelling skills. It's important to associate learning with fun and a positive experience.
4. Incorporate Technology
- Use subtitles: When watching films, YouTube videos, close-captions or subtitles benefit children in word-recognition and context clues.
- Educational Apps: Use vocabulary-building apps and games that make learning fun and interactive.
- Audiobooks: Introduce audiobooks to expose your child to new words and correct pronunciation.
5. Use Flashcards
- Picture Flashcards: For younger children, use picture flashcards to associate words with images.
- Word Flashcards: For older children, use word flashcards to practice definitions and usage.
6. Daily Conversations
- Discuss Daily Activities: Talk about everyday activities and describe objects and events in detail.
- Introduce New Words: Use new and challenging words in conversations and explain their meanings.
7. Encourage Writing
- Writing Tasks: Use our Accelerated English Workbooks to practice writing with a variety of vocabulary and using different forms (narrative, persuasive, informative) on a regular basis.
- Journaling: Encourage your child to keep a journal, writing about their day or creative stories.
- Word of the Day: Introduce a new word each day and have your child use it in a sentence.
8. Use Visual Aids
- Word Walls: Create a word wall in your child’s room with new and interesting words.
9. Encourage Curiosity
- Question and Answer: Foster an environment where your child feels comfortable asking questions about words they don’t know.
- Dictionary Use: Teach your child how to use a dictionary or a thesaurus to look up unfamiliar words, whether it be online tools or hardcopy books.
10. Model Good Vocabulary
- Read Aloud: Regularly read aloud to your child, demonstrating fluent reading and pronunciation.
- Use Rich Vocabulary: Use a rich and varied vocabulary in your own speech and writing to set an example.
11. Create a Vocabulary Notebook
- Word Journal: Have your child maintain a notebook where they write down new words, their meanings, and example sentences.
- Review Regularly: Regularly review the notebook to reinforce learning and track progress.
12. Engage in Educational Activities
- Museum Visits: Take your child to museums, art galleries, zoos, music concerts, and other educational outings to expose them to new vocabulary in context. Many of these locations offer guided tours or information sessions which deepen visitors' understanding of the artist, musician and exhibitions.
13. Encourage Peer Interaction
- Book Clubs: Join or start a children’s book club where they can discuss books and new words with peers.
- Group Activities: Encourage participation in group activities and games that involve communication and vocabulary use.
- English group tutorials: Learning English within group settings can encourage students to share their ideas, building their confidence, and elevating their communication skills. Practice makes perfect!
14. Set Vocabulary Goals
- Weekly Goals: Set achievable weekly goals for learning new words and celebrate progress.
- Reward System: Implement a reward system to motivate your child to learn and use new words.
Most importantly, it's about consistency and grit!