Big Words
It would probably seem a little weird to sit your preschooler down at a desk and require her to write or even dictate definitions and sentences in order to learn new vocabulary words. However, you may also wonder if your child will learn enough vocabulary through simple conversation. I believe that children gain the most through an approach that is somewhere in between these two extremes.
As infants and toddlers, children are soaking in everything they hear. You may have listened to commercials on the television or radio explaining to parents and caregivers that it is best to speak to your child using proper grammar rules rather than babble continuously during these early years. This is the time when they are learning how to speak and will imitate what they hear. As preschoolers, children begin to explore their language as they grow more curious about how things work in the world around them.
During these early childhood years, parents, caregivers, and teachers can help build a vocabulary foundation by using words that stretch children’s thinking. Although most people have caught on to the “Speak in Sentences” philosophy, we still tend to speak to young children using limited vocabulary. Instead, this is the time to use a wide variety of words and encourage children to use them in their own conversations. Definitions may need to be explained as children are exposed and begin to use the words for the first time, but this can be done through normal conversation.
Don’t be afraid to use “big” words with your child. Help her to learn to use them as well. You might be surprised at how much she understands.
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Written by Laura on July 5, 2010
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