I’ve always found a delightful connection between food and reading. This likely stems from my passion for enjoying a good book while I eat—whether it’s resting my novel on the napkin holder at a diner, flipping through pages while twirling spaghetti at the kitchen table, or balancing a bowl of ice cream on my lap as I read. I’ve even attempted to recreate some of the recipes found in stories with my kids, like the meals Frances refuses in Bread and Jam for Frances (hard-boiled eggs were a hit and saved us from the lunch monotony of PB&J).
However, it appears that mealtimes and reading share deeper ties. Psychologist Mia Carter explains that children who regularly dine with their families enjoy significant advantages in early reading and literacy skills. Research shows that dinner conversations can enhance children’s vocabulary even more effectively than reading does.
Why is This the Case?
Storybooks often have limited vocabulary, while everyday conversation introduces more complex words than a typical picture book. Carter highlights that “rare words” that exceed the 3,000 most common ones are ten times more prevalent in dinner discussions than in children’s literature. When parents share stories from their day or recount amusing family moments, they naturally incorporate many unfamiliar yet contextually understandable words that enrich a child’s vocabulary. Children who acquire a diverse vocabulary, filled with less common and more sophisticated terms, find it easier to decode words and comprehend what they read.
Moreover, children don’t just benefit from listening; storytelling plays a crucial role too. Engaging kids in conversation allows them to practice their storytelling skills. Research indicates that kindergarteners who share stories tend to become stronger readers, sometimes even up to seventh grade.
As a parent of a talkative 5-year-old, I can vouch for his enthusiasm for spinning tales—often about the same zany subjects. His latest creation features a potion that “makes motion,” where the correct ingredients are essential for flight. (Insert a humorous aside about the potion’s side effects here.) He frequently debates the merits of various components, persistently querying me about the ideal choice between water and juice for his concoction. His storytelling prowess is clearly developing, despite his audience occasionally drifting into more coherent thoughts.
Strategies for Parents
Parents can actively nurture their children’s storytelling abilities and vocabulary through simple practices. Carter provides several strategies:
- Remind your kids of shared experiences and discuss them, like “Remember our boat ride to Grandma’s?”
- Ask open-ended questions often, especially how and why.
- Encourage them to elaborate on their stories and reflect back what they’ve shared.
- Allow them to steer the conversation towards topics they find interesting.
It makes sense that conversations during meals would not only expand a child’s vocabulary but also motivate them to narrate their experiences and create imaginative stories, thereby strengthening their spoken and written communication. Carter draws fascinating conclusions from the research; I can’t wait to discuss this at dinner tonight.
This article was originally published on Oct. 8, 2012.
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In summary, fostering rich conversations at the dinner table can significantly enhance children’s vocabularies and storytelling skills, which in turn supports their literacy development.
Keyphrase: Connection Between Dinnertime Conversation and Literacy
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