Want Your Kid To Learn New Words? 8 Fun And Creative Ways to Get It Done
As children grow, they try to pick new words, and sometimes, they will ask you the meaning of the words when they come across them for the first time.
But they may not be able to fully learn new words and incorporate them into their vocabulary from the get-go. In this case, you should be patient with your child, listen to them and if they have recently learned a new word, try and apply it in your conversations.
You must use the new words repeatedly for them to remember and understand them. But there are other more interesting ways to teach them new words. This article discusses some of the most creative ways to get your child to learn new words.
8 Ways to Help Your Child Learn New Words
Helping your child enhance their vocabulary is not hard. You just need to apply these tips and wait for your child to enjoy the process of learning and using new words!
- Having Conversations
Many parents tend to imitate their children when talking, but this will not help them learn new words. Instead, you should use your regular voice and not dumb down your vocabulary when talking to your kid. Ensure that your comments are vocabulary rich.
For instance, if your child lifts their hands and says, “me want dada, me sleep,” using their kid talk, don’t use the same. Instead, respond with, “Are you sleepy? Do you want dad to carry you?”
This primarily applies to children under the age of two and three. During this age, your child picks up many words during conversation, so be careful what you say in their presence.
Listen keenly to what your child says, and when responding, ensure to insert new words and explain their meaning.
- Reading Aloud
Read aloud to your child as every time they hear a new word, they will attempt to repeat it. You can also talk about the characters in the stories to help them get a better grasp.
Choose an easy-to-read book with lots of color, shapes, and animations. After reading a book on color, practice by pointing out things that have different colors and have them repeat.
And within no time, they will be able to tell the difference between all the colors. Do the same with shapes and animals.
If you want to enhance your child’s vocabulary with some rich words such as adventure, pick books with unfamiliar and new words from the norm. Read and tell the meaning of complex words. Make use of them when having a conversation to help them incorporate the new words into their everyday speech.
- Singing
This has been proven to be a fun way to learn new words or languages. To get your child interested, you can sing together and explain all the words you want them to know from the song.
You can also make up songs and include things you see in the house. Make it fun, and your child will join and enjoy goofing while making songs with you.
- Word Puzzles
Puzzles are a fun way to teach your kid new words, and it’s not expensive as you can use free apps on your phone. Check for puzzles fit for your kid’s age and try to do them together.
For each new word they identify, ask them to use it in a sentence or ask for the meaning. If they don’t know, go ahead and explain to them.
Alternatively, you use printable word searches. The best part is you can print them on paper and have them circle all the words they can identify.
If your kids are young, search for puzzles focusing on the same topic, like feelings, household items, or animals. This ensures that they don’t get overloaded with different words.
- Word Play
Wordplay is perfect for kids between the age of two and five. For instance, you can use the alphabet and develop new words for each letter. Encourage them to be creative, and you’ll be amazed at what your child can achieve. Make this a habit, and in no time, they will remember the options.
Alternatively, you can try playing by giving clues to your child. For instance, “I spy something that is great for your ears and starts with the letter e-” This will help them quickly understand, and they will touch their ears or yours to answer the question.
For the older kids above six years, you can try playing other games, such as scrabble, sight word games, board games, and so on.
- Food Items
Your child does not know all the food items by name, so when going to the grocery store, take them along.
Have your shopping items written down and give them to pick the things they understand. After they are done, take the list and select the remaining items while explaining what they are.
Do this every time you go to the store. By the time they are six years old, they’ll be picking everything on your list. Don’t just have them shop; let them assist you in preparing and cooking the meals to understand how each item is used.
This is one of the fun family activities that can help you create a stronger bond with your child.
- Buy Them Books
Please encourage them to read. You can create a library for them and buy them new books every now and then. Buy them a notebook and ask them to note each word they did not understand and explain it to them later.
You can read with younger kids and dramatize new words for them to understand quickly.
It’s not mandatory for you to buy books. You can take them to the library and borrow books. And since most kids pick up habits from us, you should also develop a habit of reading.
- Read Materials Other Than Books
Try getting your child to read when you are outside and see a billboard. You can also have them read food packaging to learn all the ingredients.
Introduce your child to magazines and newspapers. And sometimes, let them read a few paragraphs online. Try diversifying their reading methods to encourage them to explore and discover new words.
Final Thoughts
Your child’s brain is still developing, and their ability to learn new words is fast. But you need to take advantage of their impressionable age and develop the knack for learning new words through creative means.
If you have followed this article thus far, you have just learned some of the most interesting and creative ways in which you can influence your kids to expand their vocabulary.
Follow these tips, make learning fun for your children, and help them develop into well-rounded individuals.