Building Your Child's Visual Dictionary

Building a child’s “visual dictionary” is a vital part of child development. In this case, a visual dictionary isn’t a book you can buy at the store. It refers to the background knowledge, or schema, that every person on Earth possesses. We all have a set of experiences which impact how we interact with the rest of the world.

Parents can begin to build this visual dictionary in their young children.  Although it’s called a visual dictionary, all five senses are used to build schema. You can start with your children while they are babies. The earlier you begin to expose them to a variety of experiences, the more they will absorb and bring into their schema for the long run.

How can parents do this? There are many ways to build a visual dictionary, but first you need to leave the house. Children spend time in their houses every day, and after a while, these sights and sounds become routine. Build a visual dictionary by placing new items into a child’s world. It doesn’t take a long journey to find something new. Start with places in your community. Frequent visits to the city park, with a chance to explore, could be a great first step.

Searching for crayfish

After that, continue to look for new outdoor adventures. Check your area for parks or nature preserves that provide a wealth of opportunities for exploration. Let children investigate new items within the parks and take time for hands-on moments. For example, one day last summer my girls spent hours in a creek looking for crayfish. They were both delighted and terrified when those critters shot out from under rocks. They began to count the crayfish, and we all learned quite a few things about crayfish just from watching them in the water. Did you know that they can move backwards? Neither did I until we took the time to search them out and observe them.

Fine arts experiences are another wonderful way to build a visual dictionary. Find concerts and plays that are age appropriate, and expose your child to the joys of live performance. If the venue is suitable, encourage your child to dance or sing along to the music. I will never forget a Florida vacation when my four-year-old daughter danced outside a restaurant that featured a live band. We sat on a bench and listened to music while she danced the night away.

In the summer, take your child to parades and other ceremonial events. The floats and general pageantry build long lasting images in a child’s mind. The same is also true for festivals and fairs. Once summer rolls around, you’ll have no problem finding a unique festival or fair experience. Be sure and see as many different exhibits as you can. If it’s a fair, walk through the animal barns. Kids who grow up in the city don’t often get close-up views of cows and pigs. My daughter still talks about the rabbits she saw at the fair last summer.

Zoos and museums provide another opportunity for building a child’s visual dictionary. Take time to travel, if needed, to experience these valuable resources. Museums and zoos provide many enjoyable hours of experiences for your child. A simple Google search provides the information you need to make plans for visiting any of these excellent establishments.

However or wherever you choose to build your child’s visual dictionary, remember that it’s all about frequently experiencing new things. Even the youngest child builds background knowledge daily. Turn off the TV, computer, and video games and go out to see what the world has to offer. As the parent, you might even add a few new things to your visual dictionary as well!