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The importance of building a child's vocabulary before they learn to read is highlighted in a recent article by Lisa Clark, Youth Collection Librarian. According to Clark, the more words children know beforehand, the easier it will be for them to decode and understand words when reading. If children encounter several unfamiliar words in print, it becomes harder for them to comprehend the story.
Clark suggests that simple activities like reading, playing, and talking throughout the day can significantly help build a child's vocabulary. She offers practical methods such as sorting toys into categories like animals or food and using synonyms or specific terms to describe them.
Games are another effective tool mentioned by Clark. Charades can help children connect meanings with words through acting out scenarios. The "Odd One Out" game encourages kids to identify which item does not belong in a group and explain their reasoning, enhancing their descriptive language skills.
Labeling household items with sticky notes is also recommended as a way for children to repeatedly see and recognize words associated with common objects like lamps or tables.
Before reading books together, parents are encouraged to choose 3-5 new words from the story, discuss their meanings with examples, and prompt children to listen for these words during reading sessions. Clark emphasizes making definitions kid-friendly and using repetition throughout the day.
Clark concludes by recommending books with rich vocabulary content and discussing unfamiliar big words found within those stories. These could serve as material for games like charades or other playful learning activities.
For further resources on early literacy, readers are directed to KCPL’s Early Literacy page and additional blog posts on literacy topics.
"Happy reading!" writes Lisa Clark at the end of her article.
