Once upon a time, there was a curious boy named Arav. He dreamed of weaving magic with Vocabulary, like a storyteller. But there was a problem. Words often slipped from his grasp like sand through his fingers. He knew the word he wanted, but could not speak on time.
His life took a magical turn when his grandfather handed him a notebook. “This,” he said, “is a treasure chest. Fill it with words, and they will never abandon you.”
Like Arav, your child too needs a magic wand. One that turns vocabulary learning into a fun and exciting adventure. That night, Arav made a promise—to discover and cherish new Vocabulary every day.
What do we learn from Arav’s grandfather?
Use unique methods to teach vocabulary. Aim to nurture your kids with skills that help them become professionals. Inculcate necessary soft skills that help them become confident speakers, curious learners, and expressive writers.
Building vocabulary isn’t only about memorization. It is experiencing words through books, conversations, and play. It’s a mammoth task, but starting early with fun and engagement makes it easier.
Here are 7 fun and effective ways to improve vocabulary in children:
1. Read Like an Explorer
Every book, newspaper, or bedtime story is a treasure chest of Vocabulary.
First rule—encourage to read widely. Fairy tales, adventure novels, history books, and even old letters. The more a child reads, the more words he discovers.
✔ Get them a library membership.
✔ Introduce them to reading programs to boost comprehension and fluency.
✔ Engage them in discussions that deepen their understanding of words.
✔ Read aloud with your child, pause at new words, and make them a fun learning experience.
2. The Magic of Vocabulary Journals
Each day, make them write down three new words. And make them play by asking them to make sentences, or create a doodle.
✔ Inspire children to maintain personal word journals to track new words.
✔ Involve them in fun writing exercises and creative wordplay.
✔ Engage in interactive activities to make learning Vocabulary enjoyable.
✔ Start a “Word of the Day” notebook. Let your child create illustrations or use words in short stories.
3. Conversations—The Secret Classroom
Engage them in conversations. Like, ask them questions like, “What’s the word for someone who loves books?” Answer, “Bibliophile!” Create opportunities for children to learn words. Involve them in activities to enhance their capability to use them.
✔ Cheer students to express themselves using rich vocabulary.
✔ Conduct debates and storytelling sessions to build confidence in spoken communication.
✔ Introduce ‘Word Challenges’ where students use new words in conversations.
✔ Make dinner-time word games a habit—challenge your child to use a new word in a sentence!
4. Turn Vocabulary into Pictures
Every child retains information differently. The best approach is to engage all five senses. For example, encourage visual learning. Ask them to sketch words like serendipity and ephemeral for better recall.
✔ Students create mind maps and visual flashcards for complex words.
✔ Art and storytelling sessions help associate words with images.
✔ Use visual learning tools to enhance vocabulary retention.
✔ Encourage your child to draw new words. Use color-coded sticky notes for better recall.
5. Play, Don’t Memorize
Vocabulary building doesn’t have to be tedious! Children love playing Scrabble and solving crossword puzzles.
✔ Engage in word games like Scrabble, Pictionary, and crossword challenges.
✔ Add variety, and introduce gamified activities and interactive digital tools. This helps expand their word bank.
✔ Interactive digital tools help students expand their word bank effortlessly.
✔ Try Wordle, Boggle, or even a simple word hunt around the house!
6. Listen and Absorb
Involve children in hearing words. Stories, speeches, and podcasts. This helps him retain better.
✔ Acquaint them with audiobooks and storytelling sessions to improve listening skills.
✔ Exposure to diverse English accents improves pronunciation.
✔ Give them access to TED-Ed videos and educational videos.
✔ Play audiobooks or storytelling podcasts during car rides for passive learning!
7. Write—Even If It’s Just one Line a Day
Encourage children to express themselves. Involve them in writing a short sentence. Use new words. Over time, make them turn those sentences into stories.
✔ Conduct creative writing workshops to help students apply their vocabulary.
✔ Inspire expressive language use through essay and poetry competitions.
✔ Guide students to use rich vocabulary in their assignments.
✔ Encourage your child to keep a daily journal. Even writing one new sentence every night helps.
Final Thoughts
Arav’s journey with words is the journey of every curious child. We will nurture a love for language, storytelling, and self-expression, by cultivating this curiosity.
As parents, you play an essential role in this journey. Every conversation, book, and game can be an opportunity to enrich your child’s vocabulary—one word at a time.
What’s your child’s favorite Vocabulary of the day? Share it with us in the comments!