How will my child acquire a large vocabulary?

A child begins to learn vocabulary/speech skills from birth.  It is very important that parents and/or guardians speak often to their infants and young children, and that they always speak clearly and use complete sentences as well.  Engage your children in regular conversation.   Ask your child questions and encourage him/her to answer you in complete sentences.   Also, reading to young children everyday, even from infancy, will help them gain advanced verbal and reasoning skills.  Some parents have made the mistake of talking "baby talk" to their infants so much that when these children began speaking, they were unable to to pronounce their words correctly.  Frequently, children who have heard mostly "baby talk" as infants and toddlers, will go on to have speech problems throughout their early grades of school.

After your child has learned to read, encourage him/her to read for pleasure.  Set aside a time each day to be used specifically for "fun" reading.  This is an activity that parents AND their children should engage in together.  Each of you choose a favorite book, magazine, or newspaper and sit in the same room together and read.  If  young children see their parents enjoying reading, then they will probably pick up the habit as well.  Make available to your child a variety of  age-appropriate reading materials that he/she can have easy access to during the child's free time.