Why Vocabulary Matters (and How We Can Build It Together)
One of the greatest gifts we can give children is a rich vocabulary. Words are how our kids express their ideas, describe their world, and connect with others. The more words they know and the more precisely they can use them, the more confident and capable they become as communicators and readers.
You may notice this development in your own child. A toddler might describe something as big, a few years later as large or gigantic, and eventually as monstrous. While each word shares a similar meaning, every new variation gives children a little more precision. With more precise words, they can better explain their thoughts, their feelings, and the incredible ideas in their imaginations.
Why Vocabulary Matters:
A strong vocabulary lays the foundation for so many important skills:
- Expressing thoughts clearly: Words help children share their needs, ideas, and experiences more effectively.
- Understanding the world around them: A wide vocabulary helps children make sense of new information at home, in the classroom, and in the community.
- Building reading comprehension: As children get older, they encounter more complex words through books. Early vocabulary strength is closely tied to later reading success.
- Developing social and play skills: Whether they're playing superheroes, explaining a game, or asking questions, words help them interact confidently with peers.
How Children Learn New Words:
Children pick up many words incidentally through play, conversations, stories, and daily routines. These “overheard" or naturally absorbed words are important, but everyday talk alone isn't enough to build the strong language skills they'll need later.
Some words, especially the big, interesting words that help kids understand stories and think more deeply, need to be taught explicitly. That means teachers (and families) choose specific words, explain them in child-friendly language, and give children lots of opportunities to hear and use them.
For example, in the video, the teacher introduces the word “wonderful." Instead of offering a dictionary definition, she explains it in a way children can grasp easily:
“Wonderful means something is very, very good and makes you feel happy."
She then uses the word in context, encourages the children to say it, and gives examples of when they might use it themselves. This step-by-step exposure helps children make the word their own.
How Families Can Help at Home:
Here are a few easy ways to boost vocabulary at home:
- Use interesting words in daily routines.
“That sunset looks spectacular tonight!" - Explain new words in child-friendly ways.
““Astonished" means you're really surprised—your eyes go wide like this!" - Talk about words during story time.
Pause to discuss a word or ask what your child thinks it might mean. - Encourage your child to use new words.
“Was there anything wonderful that happened at school today?"
Little moments of rich language, sprinkled throughout the day, make a real difference.
Have a great week everyone!
Morgan Johnson
Speech-Language Pathologist – Deception Bay State School