Help Your Child Learn More New Words
You can help your child learn more new words at home by using these expert tips from our speech therapists. First, it is important to understand how children learn more new words. In this post, we talk about learning vocabulary from a speech language pathologist’s point of view. We share how to help kids who struggle to build vocabulary, get the words they need to build a foundation and make stronger sentences.
While many suggest flashcards, this method gives less depth and only builds a basic understanding of words. Children who struggle with vocabulary often need help building their world-knowledge and experience with the words.
What Are Words?
As adults, we know many words, thousands, but what are they? It is important to know what a word is before we help children learn new ones. In a simple way, a word is a concept. We learn new words by using the words with others and by getting exposure to the word in the world.
Every word we have connects with many other words that help define it and give it shape. Similarly, we help children learn words by giving them more experience with words. Every time a child sees and hears a word, the context gives that word richness and helps the child learn it. A single exposure to a word may be enough to know it at times, but only through seeing the word in different ways does understanding grow.
Children Learn More New Words Through Experience
Now that we defined a word, let’s talk about how we grow our vocabulary knowledge. Some might think that once a child learns a single definition, they know the word. However, that practice only gives a basic understanding.
Often times when children who struggle to learn new words only get a definition, they may find using the word challenging. They might also find it difficult to relate the word to any others they already know.
Kids overcome this challenge by seeing and hearing the word in many different ways.
We included some of the best places to learn words below:
- Reading books
- Listening to stories
- Visiting the community
- Interacting with others
- Seeing the word used in new ways
Enrich Your Child’s Language with Storybook Readings
By reading to your child or having your child read books, they get many new contexts for vocabulary words. This means that your child gets to see or hear the word used in new ways, which helps build stronger connections to that word!
Storybook reading also gives children many examples of new sentences and helps them learn how story narratives work. When a child reads a book, many new skills get learned and strengthened.
Some books even focus on just those important words the child needs to learn. In fact, storybook readings give a great opportunity to talk about those important words, what they mean and how people use them.
When you pick out a new book, check to see what words it includes and how you can read it in a way that support your child’s vocabulary the most.
Do Our Senses Help Us Learn More New Words?
Our senses help us learn vocabulary by storing new and related information. Knowing what an object looks like and feels like helps us grow our vocabulary knowledge. Making some words a sensory experience can help kids learn them better.
You can give kids the opportunity to expand on their vocabulary through play and by showing them new places. For example, when a child visits an aquarium for the first time, they get the chance to learn new vocabulary related to the ocean. When kids go to a grocery store, they get the chance to learn new foods.
Remember that learning words should be interactive when possible!
Children also learn about words when they hear about the functions of words. For example, a child may hear about what an object does, where to find it, what color it is, and other facts.
How Does Speech Therapy Help Vocabulary?
When children participate in speech therapy, they learn more new words by expanding on what they already know. They also learn by relating the words they know to other words. Speech therapists know how to introduce words and how to grow vocabulary skills in a way that is unique the child.
Speech therapists also know how to give kids tools they can use when learning words on their own. They can also give kids ways to remember words they already learned.
If you are concerned about your child’s ability to learn and remember new words, speak to a licensed speech therapist today.
