Best ways to teach new words and build your child's vocabulary

Building a robust vocabulary in children from ages 0 to 8 is crucial for their overall development and can significantly enhance their reading skills. Improving your child's vocabulary is not just about learning new words; it's about creating a language-rich environment that fosters curiosity, confidence, and a love for learning. Make vocabulary building an enjoyable and integral part of your child's daily routine.

One foundational strategy is to have engaging conversations with your child.Speaking frequently and descriptively to your child adds new words to their vocabulary and fosters a rich linguistic environment. Research from the University of Minnesota highlights that children whose mothers frequently talk to them learn almost 300 more words by age two than those whose mothers rarely speak to them.

While terms like "bow-bow" for dog or "yum-yum" for food may sound cute, using the correct terms helps children learn the actual words they need. Additionally, exposing children to multiple languages can be beneficial. Studies from Harvard University show that early bilingualism offers significant cognitive benefits.


Introducing big words to your child's vocabulary should not be intimidating. Children can learn complex words if these words are used frequently in their environment. The effort needed for a child to learn simple words like "cat" is the same as for complex words like "Tyrannosaurus."


According to Grace Riyas, whole brain development expert, parenting coach, "This visual association helps children learn the names of objects and enhances their print awareness, preparing them for reading success. Complement this by reading aloud often. Books contain 50% more words than everyday conversation or TV shows, providing a rich source of vocabulary. Reading five books a day can expose children to about 1.4 million more words by kindergarten."

Using a dictionary, exploring non-fiction, creating a word wall, and using word cards are other practical strategies. Engage your child in constructing silly sentences and playing word games like Scrabble or Zingo! Word Builder to make learning fun. Encourage storytelling to help your child use new words in context, enhancing their language skills and creativity.