Why Your Child’s Vocabulary Should Be Developed In Their Early Years

Vocabulary development is such an important part of your child’s early years. In fact, recent studies on early childhood development found that early vocabulary development and inhibitory control have been linked to academic success later on in life. 

Vocabulary is the foundation for good understanding, learning, and communication, and it supports good reading comprehension. The preschool years are a crucial time when kids significantly develop their vocabulary abilities. Differences in the child’s vocabulary exist even before they enter preschool (Merz et al., 2019; Olson et al., 2021). The child’s vocabulary either expands or remains the same over time. 

A good vocabulary supports all of your child’s areas of development. Listening, speaking, reading, and writing are all enhanced when a child develops a wide range of words. Vocabulary is crucial for a successful life. It affects a child’s school performance, and it also affects the way he/she communicates later on at work. 

Your child’s reading comprehension improves when their vocabulary increases. Imagine reading a book and most of the words don’t sound familiar to you. Of course, you would not expect to grasp the complete idea of what you are reading when you don’t fully understand every word in the text. A wide vocabulary is very important because it is the foundation for good reading comprehension. 

Increasing a child’s vocabulary opens up a world of fresh information. The extent of a child’s vocabulary predicts how good their ability to read will be. 

A Reading Habit Expands Your Child’s Vocabulary 

The best and most effective way to improve your child’s vocabulary is only through reading. You want your child to develop a love for reading in their early years because it will give them unlimited access to new information and knowledge. When your child reads, they will learn new words every time that will add to their vocabulary bank. These words add to their knowledge of the language which they will soon use when they speak or write. 

To create a love for reading, you must first help your child see reading as an exciting activity that they will look forward to. The first step to creating a lasting love for reading is choosing the right book to start their reading journey with. A recent study conducted by the National Literacy Trust found that reading comprehension increases by 40% when a child reads a personalised book compared to reading a non-personalised book. 

It has been scientifically proven that books with personalised elements increase the child’s engagement in reading, and it leaves a lasting impact on the child because it is more relatable. 

A personalised book sparks your child’s interest in reading. Some children may be reluctant to read because they find the material uninteresting. But, when presented with personalised books, they become engaged in reading because they literally find themselves in the story. 

Books designed to meet a child’s specific requirements and interests are highly likely to generate strong interest and participation in children (Kucirkova, 2010). Text ownership and using metaphors, both literally and figuratively, is an important step in the process of becoming and identifying as a reader (Dymore and Griffiths, 2010).