Importance of Vocabulary

Exposing toddlers and Pre-Kers to "big words" and a variety of vocabulary has a significant impact on their learning. Young children vocabulary is not just what they say, but also what they hear. Here what some of the statistics are from research:

• Students with rich vocabulary at an early age showed significant reading achievement years later
• A rich vocabulary also contributes to reading comprehension 
• Language skills grow rapidly from 2-3 years old 
• Kids who hear more words at home enter school with more learning advantages than those who hear fewer words

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How can we as teachers and parents expose children to rich vocabulary so they experience these benefits? 

• Read and re-read: Repeated reading of a story book results in greater average gains in word knowledge by young children. Students are more likely to comprehend a book if they hear it more. Encourage your child to fill in the words when it is repeated or if it is a book they are familiar with. 
• Directly teach the definition of a word: During a story, if you come across a key vocabulary word, teach that word to your child. Studies show students understanding of a word comes when explanations were taught directly during the reading of a story. 

Note: Provide a simple, kid-friendly definition for the word

Example: Enormous means something that is really, really big

• Encourage conversation in your home: Whether between adults or kids, children's vocabulary grows from hearing words in multiple contexts. Talk, talk and talk!
• Answer questions! Do you ever get annoyed of your little one asking questions? Though it can be pesky, that is how they learn! Encourage their inquiring mind and answer their questions, and even ask them questions back. 
• Encourage your child to develop their own example when they learn a new word
• Keep new words active within your house - use the word in multiple contexts to deepend your child's understanding of the vocabulary 

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For more information on how to expose your child to rich vocabulary, check out this post that shares ideas for hands on vocabulary learning. 

To learn more about the importance of vocabulary in young children, watch a video here!

References:

Collins, Molly F. (2014). Sagacious, Sophisticated, and Sedulous: The importance of discussing 50-cent words with preschoolers. NAEYC.

Rowe, M.L., S.W. Raudenbush, & S. Goldin-Meadow. 2012. “The Pace of Vocabulary Growth Helps Predict Later Vocabulary Skill.” Child Development 83 (2): 508–25

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