Are Bigger words for Bigger Kids?

Imagine the very famous image of the cute little puppy with its head turned to the side portraying total confusion. Their little ears tucked back as to say "what on Earth are you saying to me?" For most pet owners, this moment comes with a laugh or an endearing smile. The assumption is that the dog will never truly process, let alone use, any of the words that come out of your mouth. No one takes these moments and questions whether or not the dog's vocabulary is on par or subpar. We just carry on with our business with no worries of how the dog's lack of a deep vocabulary can cause issues later in his life. The very thought of it is laughable. However, one thing is for sure. Even though a confused, vocabulary-deficient pup can bring along a giggle, a child who faces the same circumstances can not!

Most parents are guilty of using the very sophisticated language of 'goo-goo gah-gah' to communicate with their children early on. Of course its cute and falls in line with how we see other people communicating with babies. Nevertheless, parents can not afford to stay in the land of gibberish for too long without consequences. There is also a misconception that "bigger words" are for "bigger kids". The reality is our children are always learning. From day one they are acquiring necessary information that will help them communicate as they continue to develop. Let me be very clear, a rich vocabulary is not just for school age children. If we want our children to have extensive vocabularies, we must help build it. As their parents, we assume the role of their primary teacher which comes with many responsibilities, one of which is encouraging a broad and varied vocabulary. I can feel your hesitancy already. You may want to ask me how in the world can you help your child develop a rich vocabulary when yours may need some fine tuning? Well first, don't stress! You know way more words than your toddler (at least we hope!). By taking some intentional, practical steps you can set your child up for learning success. The first step is knowing that what comes out of your mouth has an impact on your child's education whether you like it or not. So here are some ways you can develop your child's vocabulary.

1. TALK TO YOUR CHILD! It's so simple it seems silly, right? By conducting daily, intentional conversations with your child, you are exposing them to a variety of words. Now in order for this to be effective you might have to step outside of your normal speaking patterns. Many parents operate in one way conversations that usually stem from telling a child what to do. Two-way conversations, requiring questions and responses, are very effective for developing vocabulary. Using words your child doesn't know when you are discussing your days or describing your feelings on a subject can open their mind up to words they typically do not use in their daily interactions.

2. READ TO YOUR CHILD! I do not have the words to express(irony)how important reading with your little one is to their vocabulary . When we read with our children it exposes them to vocabulary in context which can have a massive impact on their growth. When a child hears a random word out of context, they may have nothing already established in their brain to connect it to. However, if you are reading a book about emotions to your child and they are hearing words they know like 'sad' and 'happy', it will be much easier to grasp the new "worried" as something they can feel. The child will have a system in which to organize and retain the new word, making vocabulary retention easier in the future.

3. MAKE VOCABULARY PRAISE WORTHY! Praise your child for their usage of words. Always keep in mind that at an early age you set the standards for what is cool and what is not. If you highlight their use of vocabulary it will become the expected thing to do. So make mention that you like the way that your 4 year-old referred to themselves as "responsible" or your 5 year-old called the bad guy in the story a "villain". It is a really big deal and they should be aware of that.

These tips will definitely equip you with practical ways you can immediately make a positive impact on your child's vocabulary. Obviously, unlike our cute confused pup, our children will need a rich vocabulary as they progress through their educational journey. Don't wait until they are bigger as you may wait too late. Start today! As parents we should do our best to make sure that kids have the words to express themselves in a variety of situations. As always love your kids and remember...Smart Starts at Home.