Teaching Your Child Core Vocabulary
Adapted from the post Footsteps to Future Success: Vocabulary Development
By Megan Robinson, SLP MA-CCC
Photo by Waldemar Brandt on Unsplash
Did you know that 70-90% of our daily words come from the core vocabulary that we built as children? This means that building your child’s core words is a powerful communication tool!
Research shows that children are typically producing around 200-400 vocabulary words at 2 years old.
A boom in expressive language is seen around age 3-4.
By age 5, children are using over 2,000 words in their everyday vocabulary.
WHO Should Work on These Skills?
(Photo by Marta Wave @Pexels)
If your child is struggling to express his basic wants and needs to you, try implementing a picture system to teach core vocabulary words.
Words like “yes/no, stop/go, in/out, on/off, help, please, and wait” are part of our core vocabulary system. They help children express their thoughts and ideas to other people.
WHERE Do I Start?
Begin by focusing on one core vocabulary word per week. Have the whole family focus on this word during daily activities. Then, begin building upon these words and continuously practice these in practical situations in order to make sure skills translate to everyday communication.
Activity: If the word of the week is GO, then while driving in the car I would emphasize GO when appropriate. Have siblings model the phrase, “It’s time to GO!” when getting in the car to run errands. You could also use toy cars to race each other implementing the phrase, “On your mark, get set, GO!” Whether you race cars or you run a race in the backyard, have fun with it!
HOW Do I Teach This?
Repetition and modeling are important techniques in teaching core vocabulary. Keep your weekly core vocabulary word pictured in strategic places around the house like the refrigerator or doorways.
Create a picture board with word cards for everyday use. (*Hint: Check Pinterest)
Make sure your child has easy access to look at the pictures any time they want.
It is okay to start small! Focus on the basics that will be most helpful for you and your child to communicate with each other.
WHAT Else Can I Do?
Other ways to encourage vocabulary development include talking during your daily routine while modeling what you are doing. This is a great way to embed functional language into your daily routines.
For example, try to focus on the sequence of events when she is brushing her teeth by explaining to your child, “First, we need our toothbrush and toothpaste. Then, we turn on the water. Next, we squeeze a dot of toothpaste on our toothbrush...”
Other activities like cooking dinner or making the bed are good ways to target sequencing skills. Have fun and involve the whole family!
(Photo by Vlada Karpovich @Pexels)
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