Building Your Child's Vocabulary
Early childhood literacy begins with the parent(s). Here are a few hints to help build your child's vocabulary:
1. Talk with your baby or toddler about what is going on around you.
2. When your baby babbles or your child talks, listen carefully and answer.
3. Ask your baby or toddler lots of questions. Even if she does not have the words to answer, she learns that questions are invitations for her to respond.
4. Speak clearly. Use short sentences. Repeat yourself when your child shows interest.
5. Speak in the language that is most comfortable for you.
6. Read together every day. Books have pictures of things you may not see often. Name the pictures as you point to them--this helps children learn new words.
7. Research shows that children who have larger vocabularies are better readers. Knowing many words helps children recognize written words and understand what they read.
Early childhood literacy begins with the parent(s). Here are a few hints to help build your child's vocabulary:
1. Talk with your baby or toddler about what is going on around you.
2. When your baby babbles or your child talks, listen carefully and answer.
3. Ask your baby or toddler lots of questions. Even if she does not have the words to answer, she learns that questions are invitations for her to respond.
4. Speak clearly. Use short sentences. Repeat yourself when your child shows interest.
5. Speak in the language that is most comfortable for you.
6. Read together every day. Books have pictures of things you may not see often. Name the pictures as you point to them--this helps children learn new words.
7. Research shows that children who have larger vocabularies are better readers. Knowing many words helps children recognize written words and understand what they read.