Build Your Child's Vocabulary

January 23, 2013

"The Itsy Bitsy Spider went up the water spout…"

This is such a cute song with great actions that help children with motor skills. However, have you ever stopped to tell your child what a "water spout" is? Or, better yet, have you taken them outside your home and showed them how rainwater drains?

Children can only learn the words that others share with them. It seems terribly obvious, I know, but how often do we take the time to explain unusual words to them?

They quickly learn words like "toothbrush," "car," and "school." What about words like "receipt," "cushion," or "fake"? Words like these might not come up often in your everyday conversation with your child.

Watch for words that are not part of your child’s usual routine. Stop. Explain. Show them! Build their early literacy skills by building their vocabulary! Build a better reader!

Here are some good vocabulary books to read with your child:

• Big Book of My World by Kali Stileman
• Boy + Bot by Ame Dyckman
• Chew, Chew, Gulp! by Lauren Thompson
• Demolition by Sally Sutton
• Go, Go, Grapes! by April Pulley Sayre
• Goldilocks and Just One Bear by Leigh Hodgkinson
• Green by Laura Vaccaro Seeger
• How Do You Feel? by Anthony Browne
• Just Ducks by Nicola Davies
• Lion’s Lunch? by Fiona Tierney
• Pilot Pups by Michelle Meadows
• Polar Opposites by Erik Brooks
• Same Same by Marthe Jocelyn
• Say What? By Angela DiTerlizzi

Rachael A.
North Oak Branch