Baby Talk: Building your Baby's Vocabulary

Language building is a crucial part in empowering your little one as it helps them improve their socialization, reading and learning capabilities. It makes them more able to engage with their parents, caregivers and their teachers giving them more opportunities and avenues to learn from their environment and from formal classroom instruction.

How soon should I start teaching language skills to my baby?

Empower your child early by helping him improve his vocabulary especially during the first few years of his life in order to help support his brain development. According to a groundbreaking study called the “Word Gap” conducted by university professors Betty Hart and Todd Risley, parents would do well to start introducing new words to their babies even before they turn three years old. “With few exceptions, the more parents talked to their children, the faster the children’s vocabularies [developed] and the higher the children’s IQ test scores at age 3 and later.”

What do I build my baby’s vocabulary?

Talk to your child

Try to use new and interesting words in your conversations. Introduce new words in context to help him learn and understand what the word means.

Use hand gestures and expressions

Using hand gestures and facial expressions help provide context for the word that you are trying to teach your little one making it easier for them to understand.

Read to your child

Take the time to read to your child in order to go over new and interesting words. You can also opt for books that contain illustrations that provide clues to the meaning of the words.

Sing or recite poetry

This makes introducing new words more playful and fun making it easier for your little one to digest.

Listen to your child

Listening to what your little one has to say will encourage him to try out new words that he has just learned, and gives you the perfect opportunity to guide him if he misuses his new words.

Encourage the family join in on the conversation

This is another fun way to help introduce even more words into your child's vocabulary. Try mapping out discussion topics and ask questions to keep the conversation going.

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