3 Ways To Support Your Child To Expand Their Vocabulary from age 0-3.
/0-3 is the most important time for Vocab Boosting. Yet it is the most overlooked.
Parents often say to me that their child is ‘too young’ or that their child is ‘not ready’ or that they will wait until ‘their child is older!’
I believe none of it.
When I tell parents who call me to find out about what we offer here at CMT that we support children from as early as they age of 18 months, they are often shocked. Some simply do not believe me. Others feel comparison stress. They feel bad that they ‘didn’t start’ earlier. They worry that their child won’t be as prepared as others who started earlier than them.
These are all legitimate concerns. But listen to me. There is nothing you can do to turn back time but what you can do is get started now!
Many of our youngest students are bilingual or even trilingual (my own son will be trilingual). So you cannot use this one as an excuse either!
We support children with diagnosed special needs.
We support children who develop their speech further down the line.
Of course, what I am speaking about does not apply to children with very specific learning difficulties that would delay their speech or delay their development of their vocabulary. So if you have a child with specific learning difficulties that could prevent them from having a broad and vast vocabulary by the age and 3, of course what I’m writing will not apply to your child.
And if you do have a child with specific learning needs, we are here to support you too. All of us who teach here at CMT have a total teaching experience of over 60 years! We all have extensive SEN training and in fact one of us is a qualified SENCO, two of my teachers are ex- head teachers and we are all highly qualified to support children with their learning acceleration and to make incredible progress.
My son has the vocabulary of a 6 year old. He is 4 years old tomorrow! And I am the reason for his broad and vast vocabulary.
Perhaps that sounds arrogant to you. I do not intend it to sound that way. The reason his vocabulary is so broad and vast is down to the sheer quantity of work that I did with him in those precious early years to intentionally and purposely support him with his vocabulary.
From 0-3 is a crucial time for vocabulary boosting and expansion. I am a firm believe that a child with a broad and vast vocabulary will outperform in so many ways their peers who do not have a broad and vast vocabulary. And although I never compare children, the world we live in is a competition. And it’s not a fair one either! So giving out children this edge is crucial.
3 Ways To Support Your Child To Expand Their Vocabulary from age 0-3.
Obsess with books
10 books a day from birth!
2. Question everything
From as early as birth, I questioned my son about everything.
Obviously he wouldn’t reply! But by the time he could speak (which was very early on), he understood my questions so well. That’s because I had asked him these questions tens of thousands of times by this point.
3. 3.5 hours a week.
Spend 3.5 hours a week on your child’s learning. This is my minimum expectation when my own clients ask me how long they should spend each week learning with their children.
Boosting Vocabulary takes time. Boosting Vocabulary takes effort. Boosting Vocabulary takes perseverance. Boosting Vocabulary takes repetition. Boosting Vocabulary takes being organised. Boosting Vocabulary takes commitment.
If you are truly committed, watch your child’s vocabulary explode!
