Techniques to Teach Vocabulary to Young Children

Source : Naomi Vogel , ehow.com

Teaching vocabulary may seem a bit difficult when the students are young children. However, vocabulary is an important subject for a young child's development and there are many techniques to make the process a little easier. Some of these effective techniques are as simple as listening and talking to the young child.

Communication
 

Many people make the mistake of talking to children but not giving them an opportunity to respond, according to Shauna Smith Duty of Baby Zone. Duty suggests asking them questions that will force them to respond with thought and sentences versus asking them a yes or no question. This will force children to take the time to think about the words they use before they respond. For example, when a child is coloring, ask her which color she wants to use and why she likes that color instead of asking if she wants to use blue. This method will give her a chance to use words you have taught her on her own. 

Videos and Music
 

According to online education resource, Teflonet, children learn and respond well to technology. Using vocabulary videos with subtitles or listening to music while reading the lyrics can be an effective method for teaching vocabulary because the child will hear and see the new word at the same time. It will also be used in sentences, which will give the child a better understanding of the definition.

Reading Aloud
 

Reading aloud to a young child will help the child gain a better understanding of the word because he will hear it in a sentence and he may also be more inclined to remember the word because the story may be of interest to him. According to Duty, this also "fosters a love for literature and improves vocabulary through exposure to words." When coming across a word the child is most likely unfamiliar with, take the time to tell him what it means. This will also enhance his vocabulary skills. Then go back and re-read the sentence. 

Repeat
 

Repeat the vocabulary words the child has learned as well as their definitions. According to K12reader.com, before a word can become a part of a child's vocabulary, she will need to hear it several times. Use the word over and over in different sentences and with different connotations and this will create a better understanding of the word in the child's mind. This also increases the chance that the child will use the word again in the future.