The Word of the Day (for children birth to 5 years)
- maternalbrickroad
- Aug 18, 2024
- 5 min read
Written on March 20, 2024
Whether you are expecting or already have children under your care, it’s never too late to start paying attention to how and what you are saying out loud around them. If you haven’t heard it yet, believe me when we say, “Children are sponges.”
What absorbs more than a sponge? ... a towel?
No. Kids.
I am pretty sure kids are the most absorbant thing on the planet. With that being said, it is so important to realize that whatever you do or say in front of the child that is in your care, is what you want them to learn and repeat.
I was watching a show in the background while making lunch one day, and (granted the show was half in Spanish) my oldest, who is 2.5, repeated a word after they said it. The characters were talking to each other, and quickly at that. But, she must’ve heard the word “miracle” and then just randomly repeated it out loud.
We’ve witnessed many, many, many (I could go on), good and bad things that she has repeated or mimicked from us and other people. To be honest, it is one of the coolest things to watch. We are literally watching her learn and grow right in front of our eyes. So cool. BUT, it helps us realize that it’s important that we react the way we want our child to react.
Check out @theconsciousparentinghub on Instagram, for great advice on raising a child with respect and boundaries.
Anyways, on the topic of talking to our children, it is so important to start as soon as they are born. The more language a child hears growing up, the further it develops their brains. There are so many pro’s to this tiny piece of engagement.
What is your baby getting out of learning words in their early months?
“Research shows that 80 percent of a child’s brain development occurs within the first 1,000 days of life – making those three years important for lifelong health, learning, and success.” M. H. F. (2021, August 18). First 1,000 days – a critical time for children’s brain development. First 1,000 Days – a Critical Time for Children’s Brain Development | Masonic Institute for the Developing Brain.
When your child is exposed to language throughout their days, their brains are gaining so much development out of it.
This includes …
Social emotional development: to be able to experience, regulate and express a range of emotions. Develop relationships and interact with people, and have autonomy.
Communication & language development: the way a child understands and communicates with others
Cognitive development: the way a child processes information to understand a concept, so that they can use language to express it.
Babies are fond of their parents’s voices (and other family members they may be close too), so it will entertain them. They will soon be able to pick up the sounds they hear, and try to repeat the different consonants and vowels.
Babies and children can also feel the effort you give at a young age, that indicate you care about their development. This allows baby to feel valued as they grow older.
The more words babies and children hear early in life, the more confidence they will experience in communicating when they are older.
EXTRA TIP: Learning a new word each day helps grow a child’s vocabulary, but if you learn the sign on top of the meaning, then you could also be teaching your baby (and you!) sign language, one word at a time!
Don’t forget that even if you teach a child a new word each day, that you are continuing to use that word in your daily vocabulary, so that it helps the child to get comfortable with it.
Tips on how to introduce language into a baby’s life
Narrate everything you do during the day (as silly as it may seem, who cares.)
Name everything that you use, or touch, or baby see’s or feels
Sing songs (known songs or even made up – baby doesn’t care how good it is)
Read books, magazines, flyers
Make up a story
Tips on how to teach your toddler new words
(Make sure that child is learning their letters as well! Hearing words be used accurately are going to teach a child how to communicate, but for a child to learn how to read, they will need to learn letter recognition.)
Read & sing as much as possible
Minimal screen time is ok. There are great PBS shows that teach about spelling and reading, as well as online games. This helps a child to interact and use their brain. If you’re worried about screen time, just limit it.
Learn sight words WITH pictures!
Make sure to give full attention and your best answer when a child asks what a word means.
Label items in your house (make this an activity you do together to get them interested).
Tips on how to keep your older child (elementary age range) learning new words
Get them to pick out a new book every week/month (make it fun!)
Take field trips to nearby museums, parks, zoo’s. Learn about it.
If your child can read, have them read things when you go places. Say, you go to a cafe; have them read the menu. If you’re driving in the car, have them read signs on the side of the road or buildings.
Have child randomly pick a new word from the dictionary per day (if you’re looking for this to be age appropriate – pick them out yourself and put them in a bowl. Let child pick it out and together look up the definition of the word. Have the child try to use it themselves as much as possible throughout the day. Make it a challenge!
Flash cards are a great idea! But, make sure a child is aware of what each words means. Give an example.
Again, make sure to give full attention and your best answer when a child asks what a word means.
Have child speak to, or read, as much as possible, to a younger sibling.
I have created a Printable to make your life easier! Check it out!
This is no longer on my Etsy Shop. But in better news, it is now available on my FREE DOWNLOADS page!
This printable is a compilation of words for a full year (plus some). One word per day to emphasize in your baby’s daily communication. All you have to do is find any opportunity in a day to use the specific word. Whether it be a tangible item that they can see, used in sentences many times throughout the day, used in songs, or learning the sign for sign language! I am not expecting your child to repeat these words in their first months of life, it is more for them to be introduced to it. The more words a child learns, the more confident in communication they will be.
Happy Days with your babes!
Comments