Building a robust vocabulary is important for your child’s overall development, particularly where their written and verbal communication is concerned. Fortunately for parents, there are lots of ways you can help your child learn new words. Here are some suggestions from a nursery in North London.
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Repeated Exposure
If your child comes across a new word, they will need to be exposed to it several times before it becomes memorable to them. So, if you introduce them to a particular word, try and incorporate it into conversations with your child on a regular basis until they become used to it, and try to use it in different contexts.
Visual Cues
Try to solidify your child’s understanding of a new word by helping them visualise it. For nouns, for example, you could look them up online and show your child a picture. With verbs, you could act out the word, like running or jumping. If your child can visualise a word, they will find it easier to remember.
Reading
Regular reading with your child is one of the simplest ways to expose them to new words. When you come across a word in a storybook that they don’t understand, pause, and explain what it means. Then try and ask them a day or two later if they remember the new word they learnt. Generally speaking, it’s a good idea to ensure your child has plenty of access to various reading materials, from magazines and newspapers to books and blogs.
Synonyms
You might be inclined to “dumb down” the terminology you use so that your child can understand you better, but this won’t help with their learning. Try to use synonyms so that your child has a broader vocabulary, as this will help them express themselves.
Word Games
There are lots of games and other activities that allow your child to practise using different words. Scrabble, Scattergories, and Boggle are just a few examples, but word searches and crosswords work just as well.
I hope these are useful in helping your child develop their vocabulary and remember fi you are looking for additional support when it comes to helping your child with their homework then there are a number on online educational quizzes that can also help.