Milwaukee Public Library


Enriched Vocabulary
Knowing the specific names of things:
Be descriptive when naming things - big red boat, furry black puppy Expose children to new words Discuss concepts: time, seasons, opposites, etc
Activities you can do together :
Talk with your child Repeat words over and over again Explain words your child does not know
0 – 2 years old
Your baby learns words by hearing them. Babbling is the first step of talking. When you name parts of the body, be both specific and general. For example, “This is your hand. You have two hands.” You can also talk about your baby’s fingers and the names of each one, all on Baby’s hand! As you talk with your baby throughout the day, think of new words to add to what you already say. Language spoken directly to a child is most effective in building strong language skills. Play and talk with your child. While you child is playing, describe what he is doing, “You’re pushing the car up the ramp.”
Baby Bear, Baby Bear What Do You See? By Bill Martin Jr.	Baby Talk: A Book of First Words and Phrases by Judy Hindley
Eyes, Nose, Fingers & Toes,: A First Book All About You by Judy Hindley	From Head to Toe by Eric Carle
Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown	Hands Can by Cheryl Willis Hudson
Machines at Work by Byron Barton	One Cool Watermelon by Hannah Tofts
Peek-a-Boo, You by Roberta Grobel Intrater	Wiggle Your Toes by Karen Katz
2 – 3 years old
Language spoken directly to a child is most effective in building strong language skills. Use the time your child would normally be watching a TV program to play and talk with your child. Or, if your child is watching TV, watch is with him/her and talk about what is happening.
Calendar by Myra Cohn Livingston	Dear Zoo: a lift-the-flap book by Rod Campbell
Down by the Station by Will Hillenbrand	I Love Trains by Philemon Sturges
In the Small, Small Pond by Denise Fleming	Jamberry by Bruce Degen
My Big Rig by Jonathan London	The Everything Book by Denise Fleming
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle	Waiting for Wings by Lois Ehlert
3 – 5 years old
Help your child learn new words by describing his play. If he is playing with blocks, say “You’re stacking them higher and higher. It looks like a skyscraper.” Have your child draw a picture using different color crayons. Talk about the colors, not just blue, but sky blue, teal, navy blue. How are they the same; how are they different? The colors are written on the crayons to help us.
Barnyard Banter by Denise Fleming	Dim Sum for Everyone by Grace Lin
I Stink! by Kate & Jim McMullan	I’m Taking a Trip on My Train by Shirley Neitzel
Month by Month a Year Goes Round by Carol Diggory Shields	Panda Bear, Panda Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin Jr.
Subway by Anastasia Suen	Telling Time with Big Mama Cat by Dan Harper
The Cat Sat on the Mat by Alice Cameron	Who Hops? By Katie Davis