One of the most important things a parent does is to teach their child about how the world works. Communication is a large part of each person’s involvement in the world, and the earlier a child learns to communicate easily and effectively, the better able they’ll be to integrate themselves into their play groups, do well in school, and set the stage for a successful adult life and career. Many parents wonder what they can do to encourage children to get a better vocabulary, or whether their toddler is learning new words quickly enough. There’s also an ongoing discussion about whether “baby talk” is something that is helpful because small children are attracted to it, or whether the simple sounds and words actually prevent children from learning real words. There are many aspects to helping a child develop good language skills, and vocabulary is at the center of it all.
First of all, it’s important to remember that children mimic what they hear. The very youngest children don’t have the vocal coordination or mental connections to accurately repeat the word apple, but if a parent always refers to an “apple” as a “paw-paw” (for example), then the child will believe that’s the correct word. This will be confusing later, when they need to learn the real vocabulary word and associate it with the actual fruit. It’s never too early to start talking to your children with real vocabulary, and speaking grammatically. They’ll pick up your words and your good habits at the same time, even if they can’t reproduce them at the beginning.
Most children begin to verbalize by age one, and that’s when you can start to encourage conversations. When you’re reading a bedtime story, ask questions about what you’re reading – even if you have to eventually answer them yourself. Be sure to give children enough time to answer or to ask questions themselves, or to request something like their ball or doll or another glass of juice. It might take them a little longer, but the more they speak, the easier it will be. They’ll gain confidence in their power of communication when it gets results.
As a child starts participating in conversations, help them use good grammar and learn new vocabulary. For example, if your child says, “kitty on table” you can expand that to a full sentence, by responding with “Yes, the kitty is on the table.” When they don’t know the word for something, children often simply say, “want that!” You can reply, “Do you want this (apricot, jump rope, shoelace, etc.)?” This will teach them the word and how to use it.
Some children use fewer words than others in early years, but by the time a child is three years old they should be speaking well. If you notice that your child is still not able to form simple phrases – that is, if they only use single words – or if they seem frustrated when trying to communicate, there might be a problem that your help and support can’t fix. Your child’s pediatrician should be able to refer you to a speech therapist, if necessary.
In general, however, with your encouragement and involvement, your child will learn to use and enjoy an excellent vocabulary, and you’ll enjoy reading and talking with them for years to come.
