Conversation Can Build Vocabulary

It is true.

Two people talking can learn new words and that will help them increase their vocabulary and reading comprehension.

Talking to your children is a simple, powerful way to help them succeed as readers.

This may not make sense on first glance, but researchers have found an important link between the conversations you have with your children and their reading abilities.

Researchers Betty Hart and Todd Risley, studied children for 2.5 years and found that by age 3, children from some families had heard 30 million more words! Hearing those 30 million extra words set the stage for reading and academic success.

This is a huge gap that no teacher can bridge! It is critical that you speak to your children often to help them succeed at reading and school.

Build Vocabulary Easily
Every Day

• Talk to your children at mealtimes. This is a great time to ask a silly question, like "If you were an animal what would you be?" or to ask specific questions about their day, like "Who did you sit by at lunch today?"

• A great idea is to make your own conversation starter kit. To make one, get a jar or can and put a list of questions into it. At each meal, or in the car, pull out a question and enjoy a conversation with your kids!

• Tell stories to your children. My kids love made up stories--their dad is better at that than I am! Since, I'm not so creative with the made up stuff, I tell stories from "when I was a kid." They love these stories, too. They also really love hearing stories about when they were little themselves.

• Sing songs with them. We remember what we learn through music better than just hearing it spoken. Words also have a rich vocabulary for our kids. It is also calming for little ones.

  Hooked on Phonics has many little songs that children learn easily. After they have learned the songs, they sing them frequently, reinforcing the vocabulary words (and sounds) that they have learned.

• Say nursery rhymes and poems together. Patty cake, the itsy-bitsy spider, and other rhymes are great for playtime together.

• Point out the names of things. We like to this is on errands and while we drive In our car, you'll hear "There's a fire truck!" or "There's a cow!" We read signs together and I ask the older kids to find me things I need by reading the labels on food or signs in the store.

• Describe things to them. I try to point out the color or size or sound of things. In a store, I point out the red apples, and the green apples.

• If my child points out something, like a tree, I'll ask for more details, like the color, how tall is it, what was around it. This helps them learn to use descriptive words, too.

• I also describe what I'm doing when my kids are around. If we are making cookies, I'll say things like, "Now I'm getting the chocolate chips. Let's see, where's the shortening."

As you can see, you really have dozens of opportunities to start start talking to your child. By talking together at meals, telling stories, singing together, pointing out the names of things, and describing things to your children, you are adding to their important store of words! Start a conversation today!!

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Conversation to Childrens Books