Have you ever wondered how many words a child should have in their vocabulary (reading, using and understanding the words)? The guide below may shock you. However, this is a great indication of where, on average, a child should be with recognising words. As you can see from the table, from age 8 to 12 is a huge jump in the amount of words children need to learn in their Key Stage 2 years. Not only do they need to hear, spell and read the word, they also need to be able to understand the meaning. Understanding context is essential for children to become independent learners, and will enable them to use new vocabulary to improve their creative writing, reading and speaking skills.

At AE Publications, we have over 35 years of education experience through our sister company AE Tuition, and over 25 years’ experience of writing our own range to support children from 7 to 11 years old. We believe that these years are critical to elevate children’s learning to give them the tools to become independent learners. Advancing their vocabulary is key for taking their education to the next level.

Don’t fall into the trap. Being an excellent reader doesn’t always equate to having excellent spelling and vocabulary skills.

Some children can fall into the trap of appearing to be excellent readers, as they are good at sounding out words in their heads and speed reading. Children don’t always read every word on the page and/or read every word correctly. They need to be reading out loud so parents can pick up on this. Also, answering questions regarding the text is vital to make sure they’re understanding what they’re reading.

Unless you pick up on signs, this could conceal struggles in other areas of their vocabulary. Their love of reading doesn’t always align with the rest of their vocabulary skills; understanding the definition of words and when they are used is vital for them to expand their vocabulary further. A limited understanding of words can encourage repetition of using the same words in a story and may lead to difficulties in being able to express further.

Increasing a child’s spelling and vocabulary skills means they can write and communicate more effectively through the written and spoken word. Literacy skills are crucial for every subject area in the national curriculum, and improving these skills will encourage creative thinking and writing. As these skills develop, children become more confident in being able to express themselves, and in their ability to think and solve problems both on their own and with other children.

Words are the building blocks and foundation of literacy. As spelling and vocabulary skills are mastered, we can also build children’s grammar, syntax and punctuation skills, so their ability to communicate both verbally and in written form improves.

How do you encourage children to expand their vocabulary?

  1. Get out the dictionary: When a child is reading, they will come across words they don’t understand, although they may get some idea of the meaning from the context. Even as adults, we probably don’t always look up words we don’t know the meaning of. This is simply because it is time consuming to refer to a dictionary. In other words, strengthening vocabulary skills does not only come about through reading; we need other supportive materials to improve these skills.
  2. Read together: If you read a book next to your child, they are usually more willing to do the same
  3. Keeping a diary or journal: Encourage your child to start writing about their day in a diary or journal. This will help to enhance their spelling and vocabulary.
  4. Utilise extra resources: Our Spelling and Vocabulary range of workbooks supports children to expand their vocabulary with confidence from Year 3 to Year 6. In our books, 20 words are introduced across each two-page spread. Each word is learnt in its context through sentence work, and by its dictionary definition through crosswords. Writing the words also helps to strengthen spelling skills. The books are attractively presented with amusing character illustrations, colouring pages and other fun exercises.
  5. Get out of the house: Go outside, exercise and add some new words to your child’s vocabulary. Check out your surroundings and ask your child to describe in as many words as possible what is happening around them. For example, find a large tree and ask them to describe the tree and anything that is happening around the tree. See how creative they can be with their words.

Doing some or all of the above will encourage communication and get your child to experiment as much as possible with their words. The more chances your child has to express themselves through different ways, the more their vocabulary will expand.