Closing the 32 Million Word Gap

Talking, Explaining, Pointing Out - Increases Vocabulary

It is so exciting to hear children’s first words.  Did you know that how adults respond and build on early attempts at speech are two of the most important things to ensure children’s future success?
  Psychologists Betty Hart and Todd R. Risley found that children whose parents and caregivers are always talking with them, explaining, and pointing things out have a much greater vocabulary than children who do not get this experience. There can be an exposure gap of 32 million words between one preschool child and the child in the next chair by age four. The gap is significant since vocabulary growth is linked to school achievement.
 Vocabulary Hints
  What are some things that families and caregivers can do to build children’s vocabulary?  Talk your way through the precious time you have with children.  “Mommy is looking for her keys.  Let’s put on your shoes.  Let’s get into the car/bus.  We are going to the grocery store.  There’s a shopping cart.  Let’s pick out some oranges.”  Children will be more expressive, ask questions, and carry on a conversation if adults talk with them.
  Invite friends and family to go on an outing.  Three parents of toddlers were overheard in a park, pointing to a truck and conversing with their children.  “See the truck.  It’s a really big truck!  The truck is red.  The horn goes “toot-toot”.  The truck is moving away. The man on the truck is waving to you. Wave back.”
  Respond to toddlers’ directions. 

Respond to Todlers' Directions

If they want to walk to a tree, follow them there.  Try to understand what is capturing their interest.  If toddlers pick up a twig that has fallen off a tree and want to put it back, help them. This is a perfect opportunity for explaining what might have caused the twig to fall and to praise them for understanding that the twig was part of the tree.
  Toddlers may point to the full moon as it rises over grandpa’s house and say, “Hmm, hmm?”  It is a perfect time for grandpa to talk about the moon, the way it lights up the night, and to pull out the book,  “Good Night, Moon” by Margaret Wise Brown or make up a story.
Reading Builds Words
  

Stop and Point Out Objects, Characters, Illustrations...

Reading aloud to children is one of the most time-honored and effective ways of increasing vocabulary.  Stop to point out illustrations and talk about them.  Look for all the objects that are red or identify all the characters pictured on the page.  Ask questions about what may happen next in the story. Relate the story to events in children’s lives. “The story is about a butterfly.  Where did we see a butterfly?”
photos: Fran Darling, fdarling fotos
 More Vocabulary Ideas and Activities....See the authors’ book “Learning Through the Seasons” at area bookstores and grandparentsteachtoo.org. For more help to prepare young children for success in school see the authors’
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