Talk, Talk, Talk
The more words children hear, the larger their vocabulary becomes.
Children with a large listening and speaking vocabulary have an enormous advantage in learning to read. Use lots of language with young children, even when they don’t understand.
Providing them with rich language experiences helps prepare them. Research shows that children who are read to from an early age have a larger vocabulary and better language skills when they start school, making it easier to learn to read.
Children hear more new words when you read books – about three times more than in normal conversation. When you come to words your child isn’t familiar with, don’t substitute with an easier word.
Chatty Toucan loves to talk, talk, talk!
Toucan loves listening to the audiobook while they read!
Activity Time!
- Look at the picture of the Toucan on this page and talk about what you see.
- Talk about the pictures in books and let your child identify things you see.
- Find real items of pictures seen in a book.
- Create and attach labels to items in your home or classroom: doors, chairs, windows, etc.
- Have children describe the illustrations in books.
- Introduce new words and explain their meanings, rather than substituting with familiar words.
- Label things, not just objects, but actions, ideas, feelings and other abstract concepts.
- Fill a bag or box with unusual items from around the house. Remove items from the bag one at a time, say its name and what it’s used for and allow children to do the same.
More 6 by 6 Skills
more skills
Look for Letters Everywhere
Learning shapes, and then later, letters, helps children learn that words are made up of letters that mean different sounds.
Notice Print All Around You
Pointing out words in books, on signs, and all around helps children know that all of those squiggly shapes have meaning.
Take Time to Rhyme
Hearing rhymes and wordplay helps children understand that words are made up of smaller parts — like endings that can sound like each other!
Talk, Talk, Talk
Use lots of language with young children, even when they don’t understand. The more words children hear the larger their vocabulary will be.
Tell Stories About Everything
Hearing lots of stories (and helping to tell them!) gives children an idea of how stories go — beginning, middle, end.
Have Fun with Books
Books can be fun at any age, and young children who enjoy books and see their adults enjoying books will be enthusiastic to learn to read.
6 by 6 - Talk, Talk, Talk
There are three times more rare words in a book than in normal conversation. The more words your child knows, the easier reading will be!
Classic Read-a-loud Suggestions
Timeless children's books from our friends at Arapahoe Public Library
Bedtime
"Bedtime...the perfect time for kids to ask questions, request food, a bathroom trip, a new nightlight..." How about another book?
Picture books about 🌈colors🌈
Picture books about colors.
