Last month we wrote a blog entry about Getting Boys to Read. One of the precipitators to writing that article was a conversation with a parent who felt her son’s lack of pleasure reading had limited his vocabulary development.

That got me thinking. Are there other ways to develop children’s vocabularies even if a child is not a voracious reader? While there is no substitute for reading, it turns out storytelling is a powerful tool that parents and educators can use to enhance a child’s brain development.

In fact, many studies have shown that children build vocabulary, use more complex sentences, and improve comprehension when frequently exposed to stories. The educational researchers Strickland and Morrow say “much of the language children learn reflects the language and behavior of the adult models they interact with and listen to.”

How can we put this research into practice? How about at the dinner table? With the holidays rapidly approaching and the kids out of school for a week or two, this is the perfect opportunity to try some storytelling in your home.

At Engage the Brain, we are parents too. We get what a school year schedule looks like: kids playing sports, clubs, school bands and don’t forget friends. Sitting down to eat dinner, as a family, is a rare occasion. But maybe over the holidays, everybody’s schedule will slow just enough to allow some family meals.

Rather than idly staring at each other making small talk, Mom or Dad, share a story with the family. The tale could be something about your day at work, a family memory, or a scene when you were a child.
storytelling

If you are not comfortable telling a story, research one ahead of time. Perhaps you could print an interesting article and bring it to the table. Or, you could share a passage from a book you are currently reading. The key to the event is to make the story interesting and ensure it includes challenging vocabulary words. Your child will have a natural curiosity to see where you are going with the story.

Use the inflection in your voice to help your child key into important parts of the story. Drop hints to help your child determine the meaning of unfamiliar words by using context clues. Make it fun, and if you are so inclined, kids love sound effects. Spark your child’s imagination.

In her book Developing Literacy Skills Through Storytelling, Linda Frederic says, “Researchers who study brain and behavioral development have identified imagination, not only as the essence of creativity, but as the basis for all higher order thinking. With imagination, with the ability to understand symbols, create solutions, and find meaning in ideas, young people are more capable of mastering language, writing, mathematics, and other teachings that are grounded in the use of symbols.”

Are you sold?

Wrapping it Up

Storytelling is a fun way to engage the family in a language development activity. Not all kids are natural readers that like to curl up with a book. By sharing fun family stories, reading aloud from favorite books, or even grabbing something of interest off the Internet, children can develop an impressive vocabulary. Go ahead… Give it a try over the holiday break.