Trying to improve your child’s vocabulary can feel like trying to play pin the tail on the donkey: you’re throwing a lot out there but not much of it is on target.
At Wordier, we LOVE using research to make learning more efficient, which is why we liked Christ and Wang’s 2010 study on how teachers can help children to learn vocabulary. Although the research was focused on teachers, these tips are perfectly practical for home use as well.
Here are the 4 recommendations you can use to build your child’s vocabulary at home:
Note the key word here: meaningful.
Just hearing or reading a word isn’t always enough to make sense of it or to remember it.
Make word exposure meaningful by using pictures to illustrate a word or by giving your child the chance to hear words multiple times. Remember, word exposure doesn’t have to be on paper.
Children can encounter new words listening to audiobooks, in conversation or even on T.V. Audiobooks and T.V. are great for providing additional context as your child may see or hear something that hints at the meaning of the word.
Don’t just rely on reading to teach your child new words. Whilst they’ll pick up a word or two, it’s impossible for them to learn everything they need through reading alone.
Instead, make word-learning a part of your routine. That routine can involve a word list if you want but intentional word learning could also just mean using a new word in conversation and explaining its meaning to your child there and then.
To boost the effect of reading on vocabulary, encourage your child to keep their own little word bank (in a cute, personalised notebook, of course) to encourage them to seek out definitions and write them down.
This one’s our favourite.
Word-learning strategies turn your child into a little vocab mechanic, someone who can break down totally new words and decipher their meanings, independent of an adult or a dictionary.
If you’re not sure where to start when it comes to vocabulary strategies, this video talks you through them:
This is where you, as a parent, become your child’s most valuable teacher. Simply talking to your child gives them opportunities to use words in conversation and receive guidance on their usage.
If you’ve been learning words intentionally, challenge your child to spot their new words in everyday life and to weave them into conversation.
When talking to your little one, remember to use sophisticated to elevate the conversation. If you use challenging language, your child will follow suit.
Remember: these four vocab strategies will complement each other, so it’s best to combine them for maximum impact.
Our vocabulary courses are specifically designed to incorporate all the strategies above. We provide meaningful exposure with preliminary videos and homework tasks; we cover sophisticated word-learning strategies in every lesson; we provide intentional learning with explanations and testing activities; and we give children LOTS of opportunities to use their new words and receive feedback from their tutor.
To join our next batch of live classes, head to Wordier Live or, if you’re raring to go and want to get started immediately, try Wordier On Demand instead.
