"Oh! - That's A New Word!"
- Helping A Child Increase His Expressive Vocabulary

In addition to the audio/video tapes and books that are described in this web site we also developed the following method to help with a child’s expressive language. If your child has a very limited vocabulary (less than 100 words) we suggest you use the following method to help stimulate expressive language. You’ll need a 8.5" by 11" sheet of paper taped to the refrigerator (or cupboard or wall or other prominent place), a thick black marker and some 5" by 7" blank cards.

The name of the method we developed and used to help our daughter increase her vocabulary is called "Oh! - That’s A New Word!" It was very simple to do and made a dramatic difference in her spoken language. It was something she would initiate and which always produced a certain desired response from us. So here is what we suggest you do when your child says a new word or a word you have not heard for a long time. Stop whatever you are doing and say in a very expressive way - "Oh! That’s a new word! I have to write it on the list." Go to the refrigerator and write down the word. Then use a black marker and print the word in lower case letters on a 5" by 7" card. Show and say the word one time to your child. Later in the day when you read to your child show him the card again and say the word. What makes this method so effective is that you stop what you are doing, get very excited about the word as you praise your child and then go to your list and write the word down. Your actions will give your child positive feedback that you value his accomplishment. Although things may be slow at the first, with time it will become a game to your child. He will listen for new words and more readily attempt to say the word himself in order to make Mom or Dad excited about another new accomplishment.

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