Vocabulary is knowing the names of things.
Why is it important for children to hear many words?
Children need to know the meaning of words to understand what they are reading. The more words children hear, the more ready they will be to make connections when they read. You know if you are reading a word correctly if you have heard it before.
What can parents do to help children learn vocabulary?
Read together every day, even if it’s for a short time. Books have unfamiliar words that will increase your child’s vocabulary.
Talk about the story & pictures as you read so your child hears more words.
Talk about what is going on around you and your child. The grocery store, for example, is a great place to teach lots of vocabulary—the names of various items as well as colors, shapes, etc.
Ask lots of questions. A baby or toddler can’t answer yet, but she learns that questions are invitations for her to respond. When your child begins to speak to you, listen to what she says and add more detail.
Speak in the language that is most comfortable for you so that your child hears language spoken fluently. This allows you to explain many things that you might not be able to do in English. By learning concepts and discussing thoughts and ideas, the child is exercising his mind. Then he will be able to translate what he knows when he gets to school, rather than having to learn both the concept and the English word at the same time.
