Naomi H. Bradley M.Ed
“Mmmmmmmmm,” my 2 ½ year old child exclaimed as she ate her pasta and vegetables. Her little legs swinging from the high chair, head bobbing back and forth with delight. “It good”, she said as she struggled to grab another spoonful from her bowl before she retired the thought and began to use both hands. She’s right you know, my food is “good” but I decided now was as good a time as any to expose her to some words besides, “good”. I began to interrogate her on how “good” that pasta really was. Anyone with small children knows that they are natural parrots, repeating any and everything you say aloud. I said, “Faith, is it yummy?” She nodded her head up and down, “yummy”. “Is it delicious?” She tries to pronounce thatword. Is it appetizing? “yes, Ap-size-ing”. Is it scrumptious? No attempt was made at that word, just a smile and a simple head nod. I think my point was made.
You may think I’m crazy for introducing synonyms to a 2 year old, but vocabulary exposure and acquisition is critical for African American children. Education theorist E.D. Hirsch wrote, There is strong evidence that increasing the general knowledge and vocabulary of a child before the age 6, is the single highest correlate with later success. We should not drop the ball with pre-school preparation in hopes that students will pick up skills later. Later may be too late.
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