Grow Your Toddler's Vocabulary

Prepare for Reading by Growing Your Toddler's Vocabulary

C hildren need to understand words before they can learn how to read them.

Schools now use a system called 'Synthetic Phonics' to learn how to read. Using this method, they first learn the sounds used in the English language. Then they progress to reading words by sounding out each letter sound so they can 'hear' the word and then recognise it as a word they know.

[Video example]

Clearly, the more developed your child's vocabulary, the easier their learning to read will be.
This is a key way you can help your child become a confident reader.

Hopefully you've been followimg our steps and you've been talking, singing and rhyming with your child for a long time now.

Now we'll give you a simple game you can play anywhere with your toddler to help boost their vocabulary.

Begin by point out things at home and say what they are by moving to them and pointing to them.

"Where is the table ?"
"Here is the table"

Now tell your toddler that you want to play a game.

"Where is the table ?"
You child should now go and point to the table. You may have to carry them, in the direction they want to go.

Don't worry if your child does not get it at first, simply try again another time and eventually they will be ready.

Remember as usual your toddler will pick up on your enthusiasm, so it's worth throwing your self into it. Don't forget to praise you child when they get it right. When they get it wrong, avoid being negative and you simply point out the correct item yourself.

At your child's pace, cover the main things in your room. Your child's vocabulary will be growing and importantly their mind will become more receptive to learning new words.