A new Ohio State University study explores just that — the relationship between children’s vocabulary and reading, in children younger than 5-years-old.
The study found that children whose parents read them five age-appropriate books a day (containing between 140 and 228 words, on average) enter kindergarten with a vocabulary potentially richer for 1.4 million words.
For the study, the researchers — in collaboration with the Columbus Metropolitan Library — identified the 100 most circulated board books and picture books.
The calculations show that children whose parents read them five books a day hear over 1.4 million words before entering kindergarten.
Kids who have their parents read them one book a day hear 296,600 words before entering kindergarten.
Children who are never read to hear only 4,662 words before the age of 5, according to the researchers’ calculations.
“Kids who hear more vocabulary words are going to be better prepared to see those words in print when they enter school. »
