Back to School: 7 Ways to Boost Your Child's English Vocabulary and English Skills

It's that time of year when children across the nation head back to school. Give your child a head start in his classes by helping him increase his English vocabulary, English grammar, and English usage skills. His teachers will love having a bright, smart student, and he'll find it easier to do his homework and class work.

This back-to-school, children's education guide is not grade-specific. The ideas below will help anyone, including college students, increase their English vocabulary.

Back to School: 7 of the Best Ways to Boost Your Child's English Vocabulary

English can be a tough language, whether it's your second language or the language you were born and raised with. English has all sorts of difficult rules, exceptions to rules, and unusual spelling and grammar. As your child heads back to the classroom this fall, you can help him standout among the other students by expanding his English language and communication horizons.

Back to School: English Tip #1: Make English active!

Some children learn best when they use their entire body, not just their heads. Create simulated situations and have your children act out discussions. For example, act out the first day of school and ask your child how she'll introduce herself to new friends in the playground. This helps put their English vocabulary into a real-world context.

Back to School: English Tip #2: Write your English!

Ask your child to write down the English words that he's learning. The act of writing down words can help him remember them easier. Ask your child to write sentences using the new English vocabulary words that you teach him. This also prepares your child to be ready to go back to school and follow the teacher's commands.

Back to School: English Tip #3: Just watch your English!

All children love TV shows, movies and cartoons. While such use of multimedia needs to be carefully chosen, some television use is not only acceptable, but may even be beneficial! Have your child watch a vocabulary show and then ask her to write down the new words she learned. Afterwards, review the English vocabulary list that she's written, and create scenarios using those words.

Back to School: English Tip #4: Draw your English!

School kids love art! Ask your child to draw the words that he's learning. Then, save these drawings and use them later to arrange and create sentences.

Back to School: English Tip #5: Put your English on flashcards!

Flashcards sometimes get a bad reputation, but flashcards can also be fun. It's a handy way to quickly memorize new English vocabulary words, and they're very portable. Make it a game and see how many flashcards your child can answer correctly in a row. Setup a prize and make the whole experience rewarding for everyone.

Back to School: English Tip #6: Connect your English!

Give your child a large piece of paper and write down ten new English words. Then, give him colorful crayons or markers and have him connect the words with lines. Have him explain why certain words are connected. Are they similar in meaning? Similar in color? Similar in taste? This helps him associate the words with similar words, which can help in creating English sentences when he returns back to school.

Back to School: English Tip #7: Listen to your English!

There are different types of learners. Some are visual learners, and some students are audio learners. Use all the senses and get audio recordings of basic English vocabulary, and play it for your student while he writes it down.

Is Your Child Ready to go Back to School?

With these English vocabulary boosters, your child can quickly grasp new English skills and excel when he or she returns to the classroom at the end of summer.